REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



IN several respects the year 1905 has been the most satisfactory 

 of any in the Zoological Park's history. The number of 

 living animals rose well beyond the 2,500 mark, the attendance was 

 the greatest yet recorded, the death-rate among the animals was 

 the lowest, the net income from privileges was the largest thus far 

 realized, and the salaries of the Park employees were increased 

 to a fair, living basis. In addition to all this, the weather through- 

 out the year, from early spring until the end of December, was 

 auspicious for our planting operations, and for the very exten- 

 sive construction works that were carried on throughout the 

 Park. The only gravely annoying feature of the year was the 

 dog nuisance, which broke out like an epidemic during a short 

 period of the reconstruction of fences on our southern boundary. 

 The close of the year finds the year's work well rounded up, 

 our programme for 1905 practically complete, and the animal col- 

 lections generally in good shape for the winter. 



ATTENDANCE. 



The number of persons visiting the Park steadily increases, 

 due, in part, to the new means of access furnished by the Subway 

 line to West Farms. During the first three months following the 

 completion of that line, the public did not seem to be aware of the 

 existence of the new approach. For the last three months of the 

 year, however, the attendance doubled. The entrance figures at 

 the Buffalo Entrance considerably exceeded those of the North- 

 west Entrance, which previously had taken the lead. 



The monthly attendance record for the year is as follows : 



Month. 1904- 1905- 



January 19,798 23.788 



February I9>547 20.969 



March . 55,303 48.508 



