102 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1924: 



from the dead trees in the roaervation, and adds greatly to the ap- 

 pearance of the park. It was leased to a competent restaurant man, 

 who opened it to the public in April. 



IMPORTANT NEEDS 



Exhibition building for birds. — The outstanding need of the park 

 is a new building for exhibition of birds. As pointed out in previous 

 reports, the old bird house was built as a temporary structure many 

 years ago, and is now not only in bad condition and virtually beyond 

 repair but is so small that only a part of the valuable collection of 

 birds can be exhibited at one time. The public space is, furthermore, 

 entirely too restricted for present-day crowds of visitors. The col- 

 lection of birds is growing in importance and value year by year, 

 as rare and unusual specimens from all parts of the world are pre- 

 sented to the Government zoological gardens. Public interest in the 

 bird collection is very great, as attested by the throngs of visitors 

 that fill the old bird house, and it is greatly to be hoped that a new 

 building may soon be provided for the proper care and exhibition 

 of the birds and for the accommodation of the constantly increasing 

 number of visitors who wish to see them to advantage. 



Funds for purchase of animals. — Although the National Zoo- 

 logical Park leceives numei'ous animals each j-ear as gifts or in 

 excliange for surplus stock reared in the park, sufficient funds 

 luive never been available for the purchase of rare and unusual 

 species offered for sale from time to time. A re})resentative or 

 well-balanced collection of the living animals of the world can be 

 built up and maintained only by the purchase of certain types of 

 animals not otherwise obtainable, and opportunities to secure these 

 desiderata must be taken up promptly if the animals are to be 

 obtained. Animals greatly needed to fill definite gaps in the col- 

 lection are offered for sale from time to time, but the park is most 

 often unable to purchase them for lack of funds. In addition to 

 increased appropriations to cover cost and transportation of ani- 

 mals, it is suggested that a fund, to be deposited with the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and held for the purchase of animals for the 

 National Zoological Park, be inaugurated. This fund might be 

 increased by gift or bequest, and could be regularly maintained by 

 an act of Congress authorizing deposit in it of certain miscellaneous 

 revenues of the park now turned into the general fund of the 

 Treasury, these including rent of refreshment stands, restaurant, 

 and other similar concessions. 



KespectfuUy submitted. 



N. HoLLTSTER, Superintendent. 



Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 



Secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 



