110 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



( 'apt. Wirt Robinson, U. S. A., and M. W. Lyon, jr., who went to Vene- 

 zuela in the interest of the United States National Museum, obtained a 

 peccary, three curassows, and four guana. 



Messrs. rainier and Riley, of the National Museum, obtained specimens 

 of Cuban crocodile and several other animals. 



In previous reports attention has been called to the urgent need for a 

 new house for elephants and other pachydermatous animals. The present 

 structure is merely a temporary shed, built in an emergency, and expected 

 to last but a few years. It is now in such a condition that it must be 

 strengthened in order to hold up the roof and make it safe for occupa- 

 tion. It is extremely told in winter, the temperature frequently falling 

 to 40° and even lower. It will have to be sheathed during the present 

 season in order to carry the animals through the next winter. A house 

 suitable for elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, tapirs, and other animals 

 of this character, is considered an essential in all properly equipped zoologi- 

 cal trardens, and it would seem to be necessary to erect such a structure 

 before any attempt is made to collect animals of this character. One great 

 disadvantage that the park has always hail is that the animals were pro- 

 cured before buildings were ready for them. It would teem wiser to plan 

 and erect the structures and afterward procure the animals for them. 



The needs of the park with reference to a suitable bird and reptile house 

 were mentioned in the last annual report. A new structure of this kind 

 should be built in order to keep the animals in proper condition. Many 

 snakes are lost from lack of proper sunlight. It is impossible to keep 

 lizards at all, and it is useless to attempt to exhibit turtles and other 

 reptiles under the conditions at present prevailing. 



A large cage for eagles should be built in some suitable locality in the 

 park, as, since this bird has been selected as the national emblem, it would 

 seem that it should be made an especial feature in a national collection. At 

 present these birds are kept in a rickety pen, built of scantling and covered 

 with wire net t i ng. The magnificent harpy eagle from Brazil is confined in the 

 low, temporary bird house, where, in summer, it is extremely hot. There 

 is no suitable cage for the fine Liberian eagle received during the present 

 season. All these birds need a large and commodious cage where there is 

 sufficient room for short flights. Unless this is done they are liable to 

 injure their feet by pounding down upon their perches, and many fine 

 birds have been permanently injured in this manner. A similar cage 

 should also lie Imilt for the California condor. This great bird presents a 

 most striking appearance when allowed to spread its vast expanseof wings 

 in flight, but when sitting upon its perch seems much like the minor mem- 

 bers of the vulture family. It is expected that several additional "speci- 

 mens of this condor will be received during the coming year. 



Another important improvement that should be made is the construction 

 of a suitable pond for sea-lions and seals. The large pond which was con- 

 structed for that purpose is found to be altogether too muddy for use by 

 these animals, as when allowed to swim at will in it they soon suffer from 

 sore eyes. They are accommodated at present in small and unsatisfactory 

 basins in the old bear enclosures near the Quarry road entrance. 



Besides the losses by death which have been already referred to, several 



