REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7l 



the sumnijer of 1908 the crown was reformed and a new surface dressing of crushed 

 limestone was put on at a cost of $450. (This section of road is still in ahnost i)erfect 

 londition, a good example of the ease with which a comparatively level road can he 

 kept in repair as against one on a steep grade. ) 



This road was also widened at the entrance and reshaped t<j conform to the lu-w 

 lines of the highway approach outside. Cost, $250. 



liepairing hxj hriiUjc— It was found that the floods in the creek had cut into and 

 undermined the north al)utment of this hridge, and additional concrete was put in 

 and faced with stone slahs. The trend of the current against the ahutment was pre- 

 vented for the future hy removing a gravel bank and l)urying a few logs in the edge 

 of the stream to turn the water toward the center and prevent scouring. Cost, $250. 

 Water mpi)Uj from the main on Connecticut avenue extended. — The water supply for 

 the entire park had been furnished by a 6-inch main, laid at the expense of the park, 

 down Ciuarry road from Columbia road. The supply in the higher parts of the i)ark, 

 on the west side, was not satisfactory, and it was impossible to maintain sufficient 

 pressure when water was being used in the lower levels. A new pipe to supply the 

 western part of the park was laid from the main on Connecticut avenue extended, 

 at a cost of $250. 



Bookcases for o/?foe.— Reference books and bookcases for the superintendent's 

 office were purchased during the year at a cost of $200. 



Noteworthy accessions.— A young male lion, presented to the President by King 

 Menelik, of Abyssinia, was deposited in the park by the President. A spotted hyena, 

 presented by N. E. Skinner, special envoy to King Menelik. Twelve American bison 

 were loaned by Messrs. Bailey and Cody. One phalanger and 2 Ijridled wallabies 

 were received from Dr. F. W. Goding, United States consul at Newcastle, New South 

 Wales. Four coyotes were presented by Major Pitcher, acting superintendent, Yel- 

 lowstone National Park. Nine wandering tree ducks were presented by Carl Hagen- 

 beck. One Himalayan bear was received from the New York Zoological Park in 

 exchange. 



Purchases.— A Kodiak bear. (This species is the largest carnivorous land animal 

 now in existence; one killed at English Bay, Kodiak Island, weighed 1,756 pounds.) 

 In this connection it is of interest to note that the male of Ursus dalli gyas, now in 

 the park, which weighed in June, 1903, 450 pounds, had attained a weight, January 

 18, 1904, of 625 pounds. A Mexican mountain sheep. A pair of yearling moose 

 obtained in Manitoba. A pair of jaguars. A male Bactrian camel, i)rocured as a 

 mate for the female already in the collection. A California condor. A female black 

 bear, from the Province of Quebec; an unusually line specimen, weighing 880 pounds. 

 Births.— ^\g\\t wild turkeys hatched in the park. Brown pelican, sandhill crane, 

 and Canada goose also nested, and the emu laid two eggs. 



Important losses. — Two American bison, gastro-enteritis. One pair moose. One 

 American antelope. Mule deer— 8 from disease, 2 from fright by buffalo, 1 female 

 killed by a male. Two jaguars— intense catarrhal inflammation throughout intestinal 

 tract; virulent colon germs found, pathogenic to rabbits and guinea pigs. One puma. 

 Black bear— pneumonia, 2; gastro-enteritis from Ascari.^ transfuga, 2. One grizzly 

 bear, gastro-enteritis with nephritis; in the collection since June, 1888. One sun 

 bear, from gastro-enteritis. One Japanese bear, shock from cutting claws. Four 

 Arctic foxes, no intestinal worms found; they were found in subsequent cases. Two 

 European flannngoes, Tropidocercu (a nematode worm found in subsequent cases) 

 producing fatal inflammation of the digestive tract. One cassowary from serous 

 pericarditis. 



A considerable number of monkeys, birds (parrots, etc.), and snakes died from 

 • results of overcrowding or lack of proper quarters. 



The post-mortem examinati<ms were made by tlie Bureau of Animal Industry, to 

 whose courtesy the thanks of the park are due. 



