252 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1924 



collection of mammals is one of the finest in the world, and is par- 

 ticularly notable for the large number of rare species seldom seen 

 in collections of living animals. There are now 13 different species 

 of bears on exhibition, represented by 23 individuals, including a 

 fine specimen of the glacier bear {Ursus emmonsii)^ the first of its 

 kind ever to reach a zoological park. Other carnivores in this notable 

 collection include 12 species of wild dogs, the most unusual of 

 which is the South American bush dog {Icticyon venaticus) ; an 

 aard-wolf {Proteles cristatus), a rare member of the hyena family 

 from South Africa; and 14 species of the cat family, among them, 

 in addition to the regular exhibition of lions, tigers, leopards, etc., 

 examples of the cheetah, or hunting leopard {Acinonyx jubatus), 

 snow leopard {Felis uncia), and clouded leojiard {Neofelis ne- 

 hulosa) . 



The collection of monkeys now contains about 30 species, among 

 which may be mentioned such rarities as the gelada baboon 

 {T hero pit hecus odscurus), 4 species of mangabeys, and the Moor 

 macaque {Cynopithecus maurus). There are 55 species of hoofed 

 animals, many of them represented by fine breeding herds. The 

 reindeer, Alpine ibex. Rocky Mountain goat, Roclvy Mountain sheep, 

 musk ox, black rhinoceros, Baird's tapir, African and Sumatran 

 elephants are among the unusual species shown. 



Among the birds, the waterfowl, cranes, birds of prey, and os- 

 triches and their allies are especially well represented, and the col- 

 lection contains many rare varieties. The kiwi {Apteryx manteUi), 

 Hawaiian goose {Nesochen sandvicensis) , California condor {Gym- 

 nogyps calif omianus), and kagu {Rhynochetos jubatus) may be 

 mentioned as of especial interest in this connection. There are now 

 on exhibition 190 parrots of 50 different species. 



The prize exhibits in the reptile department are extra fine spec- 

 imens of the anaconda, some large pythons, one of them 25 feet 

 long, and 4 specimens of the virtually extinct giant tortoise of the 

 Galapagos Islands. 



A unique exhibition is the North American Waterfowl Lake, 

 wherein are shown only such species of ducks, geese, and swans as 

 are known to occur in North America. This restriction to native 

 species is very much appreciated by bird students and sportsmen, 

 who are confused if exotic species are mixed with native forms. At 

 present this inclosure contains about 200 waterfowl of 35 different 

 species. The lake has been constructed and planted to represent 

 one of the woodland ponds common to parts of the eastern United 

 States, and its natural appearance makes it differ greatly from the 

 highly artificial lakes usual to zoological gardens. Fresh water 

 from Rock Creek is constantly flowing through it, and a dam in 



