NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 39 



COLLECTIONS AT THE PARK. 



In January and February, the Primate collection was vis- 

 ited by the first serious epidemic in the history of the Zoological 

 Park, The orang-utans and chimpanzees were attacked simul- 

 taneously by a remarkably rapid form of tuberculosis, and in a 

 few weeks all of them died. The largest and finest chimpanzee 

 survived only ten days after he first showed signs of illness. 

 Fortunately the epidemic did not seriously affect the baboons, 

 monkeys and lemurs. 



The victims of this epidemic have been thoroughly examined 

 by the Prosector's Department, and the results are conclusive 

 that these animals were attacked by a human type of tubercu- 

 losis, conveyed by spectators. 



This building has been completely overhauled, with a view 

 to the elimination of all harboring places for vermin, and the 

 improvement of the ventilation. The ape cages have been ef- 

 fectually sterilized by Dr. Blair and repainted, to render them 

 safe for further occupancy. 



Neiv Animals. — Several notable accessions have been re- 

 ceived at the Park. The most valuable are the following : a go- 

 rilla, an adult male orang-utan, a male chimpanzee, a great ant 

 eater, 3 sea lions, 2 Siberian ibexes, 2 Abyssinian ground horn- 

 bills, 4 emus, a black-footed penguin, a large anaconda, a gelada 

 baboon, a blotched giraffe, 3 East African zebras, an East Afri- 

 can bush pig, 4 ground hornbills, a Manchurian eared pheasant, 

 a peacock. During September the collection of equines was in- 

 creased to seven by the purchase of a young kiang or Tibetan 

 wild ass, born in July, 1913, in the Zoological Gardens of London. 



Death of Animals. — Aside from the losses occasioned by the 

 epidemic of tuberculosis, reported above, the losses from death 

 have been only the usual number. The most important were a 

 very young giraffe, an eland, a mountain sheep, 3 large apes, 

 and a fine female zebra, newly arrived from Africa, that broke 

 its neck in a panic caused by an electric storm. At the close of 

 the year the animal collections generally are in excellent health, 

 the only serious exception being the partial paralysis in the legs 

 and arms of the gorilla, and a bad case of rheumatism in one of 

 the forelegs of the pygmy African elephant. 



A census of the animals in the Park, taken January 1, 1915, 

 shows the following results : 



