TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 37 



The number of gifts that have been received during the past 

 year indicate a keen interest on the part of the American sports- 

 men in the upbuilding of the National Collection of Heads and 

 Horns, and it is now reasonably certain that the plan for two 

 complete series of heads and horns of the ungulates of the world 

 will be consummated within a comparatively short time. 



The collection will be installed in the Administration Building 

 as soon as that building is ready to receive it, and at that time a 

 special effort will be made to add largely to the collection. Mean- 

 time the Society will be grateful to receive large specimens of 

 heads, horns or antlers of game, all of which will be properly 

 protected in a fireproof building. 



NATIONAL BISON HERD. 



On October lo, 1907, in accordance with the offer of the 

 Society to the Government, fifteen bison were selected from our 

 herd and shipped to the new range that has been made by the 

 National Government on the Wichita Reserve. The shipment 

 was accompanied by Mr. H. R. Mitchell and Mr. E. R. Sanborn, 

 and the animals arrived in excellent condition. The Wells Fargo 

 Express Company, the American Express Company, the New 

 York Central and Hudson River R. R. Co., and the St. Louis 

 and San Francisco R. R. Co., furnished free transportation for 

 the two carloads of bison and their attendants, from New York 

 to Cache. The Forestry Bureau of the National Government 

 erected corrals, sheds, etc., in accordance with plans furnished 

 by the Zoological Society, and every effort is being put forth to 

 care for the bison in a scientific manner. 



The following letter has been received from the Hon. James 

 Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture : 



Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary. 



Washington, D. C, Februar}' 4, 1908. 

 Mr. Madison Grant, Secretary 



New York Zoological Society, New York City. 



Dear Sir : I wish to extend to you my sincere appreciation of the bison 

 herd your society presented to the Forest Service. The buffaloes arrived 

 in excellent condition at their destination in Oklahoma, and have thrived 

 since being placed in the enclosure built for them. They were sprayed 

 with crude petroleum and other methods taken to prevent their becoming 

 infected with fever ticks. The animals are now being fed on alfalfa hay 

 and are supplied with pure, fresh water from a well built for the purpose. 



I wish to assure you that your magnificent gift is keenly appreciated, 

 and that you have my sympathy and admiration for the great work your 

 society is doing. Very truly, 



James Wilson, Secretary. 



