REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 23 



Governments of the Dominican Republic, Latvia, and the Free City 

 of Danzig had adhered to the two exchange conventions concluded 

 at Brussels, March 15, 1886. 



The number of full and partial sets of United States official docu- 

 ments sent through the exchange service to depositories abroad is 

 now 97, there having been added during the year to receive full sets 

 the Ministry of Finance, Government of Northern Ireland, Belfast; 

 State Library, Reval, Esthonia; and the Library of the League of 

 Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, there is an immediate 

 exchange of the official journal between the United States and 41 

 foreign governments. During the year, this immediate exchange of 

 the official journal has been entered into with Haiti, Latvia, and 

 Norway. 



NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 



The year has been one of the most successful in the history of the 

 park, both as to care and maintenance of the animal collections, 

 buildings, and grounds, and in service to the public. All previous 

 attendance records were broken by the total of 2,442,880 visitors re- 

 corded for the year. Among the 221 animals presented to the park 

 during the year were many rare and unusual species, including a fine 

 young Baird's tapir presented by Mr. M. G. Henery, of Honduras. 

 This species of tapir has always been one of the rarest animals in 

 zoological collections. Through the continued interest in the park 

 of Mr. Victor J. Evans, of Washington, D. C, 55 animals were added 

 to the collections including several very rare and valuable species. 

 A most interesting collection from Brazil was brought to the park 

 by Dr. W. L. Schurz, commercial attache. United States Embassy, 

 Rio de Janeiro, which included a fine South American bush dog, the 

 first of its kind to be shown in the park. 



There were 1,645 animals in the collection on June 30, 1924, 

 including 458 mammals of 177 species, 1,059 birds of 276 species, and 

 128 reptiles of 41 species. The number of animals added during the 

 year was 491, while 614 were lost through exchange, death, and 

 return of 'animals on deposit. Forty-two mammals were born and 

 27 birds hatched in the park during the year, while the death rate 

 was held at a normally low mark. 



The 11 new yards for hoofed animals mentioned last year were 

 completed during the year and occupied by animals in the fall. The 

 superior arrangement of these paddocks for the care and exhibition 

 of the animals has been favorably commented on by officials of other 

 zoological gardens and by visitors. A new restaur'ant building, 

 needed for many years, was completed during the year, which adds 

 greatly to the appearance of the park and is much appreciated by 



