70 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



brick foundation. It has internal diameters of four and eigiit feet, 

 and has a smokestack thirty-six feet in height. We beHeve that 

 this crematory solves the long-standing problem of what is best 

 in this line for such institutions as ours. 



Removal of Old Caribou Barn. — The barn formerly occupied 

 by caribou, and situated near the southern end of the Aquatic 

 Bird House, was removed to the new Wild-Horse Installation in 

 what formerly was the old Moose Range. There the building was 

 rebuilt, and while awaiting its equine occupants it is being used 

 by a small herd of European red deer. 



Kestrels' Cage. — The cage for the kestrels and owls was en- 

 tirely rebuilt, and put upon a concrete foundation. 



Insects Injurious to Trees. — The fight against noxious insects 

 was continued, and shows surprisingly good results. Of tent 

 caterpillar's nests there were found and destroyed a total of 3,220, 

 against 11,194 in 1906. and 40.300 in 1905. Of cocoons we col- 

 lected 470, most of which were allowed to remain in cages until 

 spring, when the parasites were permitted to escape, and the 

 imagoes were killed. Of noxious scale insects we are nozn' prac- 

 tically free. 



Tree Pruning. — Owing to the pressure of other work only 184 

 of the largest trees were pruned, but we expect to prosecute this 

 work more vigorously during the early part of 1908. 



CONTR.XCT WORK IN GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Conducted under the direction of the Park Department for the Borough 



of the Bron.x, Martin Schenck, Chief Engineer; 



W. P. Hennessy, Asst. Engineer. 



The Elephant House. — Early in the year a contract for the 

 construction of the Elephant House was awarded to Alessrs. 

 F. T. Nesbit & Company, and work began as soon as the condi- 

 tion of the ground would permit. Construction work was prose- 

 cuted with great diligence, and excellent progress was made until 

 the severe weather of January, 1908. necessitated a suspension 

 of work. 



Up to date the construction of this important Iniilding — the 

 contract price of which is $147.599 — promises to be very con- 

 scientious, diligent and satisfactory. The construction force ap- 

 pears to take a keen and intelligent interest in all details, and to 

 be animated by a spirit of pride in the finished work. The cage 

 doors and cage-work now in place seem to have been constructcfl 



