REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 77 



PURCHASES 



Important specimens acquired by purchase were a secretary bird; 

 a number of South African snakes, which were obtained from the 

 Fitzsimons' Snake Farm, Durban, South Africa; 6 two-toed sloths; 

 a pair of raccoon dogs; and a pair of East African wart hogs. Also 

 purchased during the year were a pair of guanacos and a pair of 

 single-humped camels. Tliis provides specimens of all living forms 

 of the camel family. 



ItEMOVALS 



Many of the poisonous reptiles have been removed from the Zoo, 

 leaving so few in the collection that they can be instantly disposed 

 of should the occasion require. 



In the report for 1941, there was described a very serious loss of 

 birds resulting from an epidemic of psittacosis in the bird house. The 

 bird house was closed to the public for about 3 months, and at the 

 beginning of this fiscal year the parrot room was still closed. A 

 release from quarantine for the parrot section was received from 

 the District of Columbia Health Department on September 27, 1941, 

 and the room was reopened to visitors several days later. 



Through splendid assistance and cooperation on the part of the 

 United States Public Health Service and the District of Columbia 

 Health Department this disease has been eradicated. Suspected birds 

 that die are sent to the Public Health Service for examination, and 

 for nearly a year the results of the examination have all been negative. 



DEATHS 



The principal losses for the past year have been of very old resi- 

 dents. A sulphur-crested cockatoo, which was presented by Richard 

 und Harry Hunt, Bethesda, Md., April 19, 1890, before the present 

 Zoo was actually established, died June 20, 1942, after 52 years and 

 2 months in the Zoo. It had been a pet of the Hunt family for 5 

 years before coming to the Park. It had come to the United States 

 in a sailing ship around Cape Horn. 



The female reticulated giraffe which had been received June 21, 

 1939, died April 24, 1942. Other losses by death of animals which 

 also had been in the Zoo for long periods included an Alaska Pen- 

 insula bear in the collection 19 years; Baird's tapir, in the Zoo since 

 May, 1924; and a Malay porcupine that had lived here for 22 years. 



The American bald eagle, "Jerry," probably the most photographed 

 bird in the world, died April 15, 1942. It had come as a gift from 

 President Wilson and had been a Zoo resident for 26 years. Photo- 

 graphs of "Jerry" were used as models for the eagle on our defense 

 posters. 



