REPORT ON THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 79 



to date, thus furnishing a complete catalogue of the flora of the park, 

 which, it is to be hoped, may later be published in some form as part 

 of a guide to the natural features of the park. Lists of the native 

 mammals, birds, and reptiles of the park, with pertinent data, are 

 also in preparation for some similar purpose. 



ALTERATION OF THE WESTERN BOUNDARY. 



By an act approved June 23, 1913, Congress appropriated $107,200 

 for the purchase of certain lots and parcels of land between the west- 

 ern boundary of the National Zoological Park and Connecticut Ave- 

 nue, from Cathedral Avenue to Klingle Road, this land, together 

 with the included highways, to become a part of the park. The ap- 

 propriation was not a continuing one and lapsed at the end of one 

 year, before legal proceedings for the purchase were completed. 

 Items for the ^appropriation of this sum and for the additional 

 amount necessary to meet the figures fixed by the court in proceed- 

 ings of condemnation have since been submitted to Congress in the 

 estimates each year, but have not been favorably considered. 



The principal entrance to the park will always be from Connecti- 

 cut Avenue, and the importance of a frontage on that thoroughfare 

 at and bordering the gate can not be overestimated. The necessary 

 land should be acquired before it is too late, in order that when the 

 time comes a dignified entrance gate can be constructed and the near- 

 by land controlled by the park authorities. 



IMPORTANT NEEDS. 



Roads, bridle paths, and automobile parking. — As mentioned in 

 the report for last year, the question of providing space for the 

 parking of automobiles near the main buildings is serious. The 

 enormous increase in the number of cars visiting the park makes it 

 difficult to care for the safety of the public without adequate park- 

 ing space. More than 4,500 automobiles sometimes pass through 

 the park in a single day, and many of the large sight-seeing cars 

 regularly visit the Zoo. During the coming year it will be neces- 

 sary to make extensive repairs to roads and walks, and some change 

 should be made in the bridle path in order that riders would not 

 be forced to use the bridge and main road from the Harvard Street 

 gate to the crossroads. 



Grading and filling. — As soon as practicable the work of grading 

 and filling, commenced two years ago but discontinued for lack of 

 funds, should be completed. As left, it makes an unsightly and 

 unfinished-looking place in one of the most conspicuous points in 

 the park bordering the main road. The further cutting away of 

 the irregular hill in the center of the western part of the park and 

 the filling in of the near-by ravine will level nearly 70,000 square 



