92 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
areas being a section of the Service Road, the plaza at Boston 
Road Entrance, the West Farms Block, the Pheasant Aviary 
Walk, a portion of Baird Court, and the Service Yards. 
At the Boat House, where the approach never had been put 
in really good condition, and had become unsightly by the fact 
that the railings bordering the roadways were battered and 
broken by teams and automobiles, a long front of strong con- 
crete coping was built. It is constructed on the same lines as 
that surrounding the plot between Boston Road, 180th Street, 
and the Bronx River. It is about 300 feet long, and contains two 
pedestals upon which cast-iron lamp posts have been set. It 
gives the Boat House a finished look, and thoroughly protects 
the lawn and plantings from any further damage by vehicles. 
The expenditures for this coping and for the walk repairs 
amounted to $2,039.97. 
Tree Pruning.—Owing to the urgent demand for work in 
the pruning of dead limbs, and the cleaning and treatment of 
cavities, it was necessary to increase our small force of tree 
pruners by several additional men. Efforts in this line were 
concentrated upon certain sections of the Park, where they were 
most needed, and these sections, as for instance, Bird Valley, 
the portions adjacent to the Jungle Walk and Beaver Valley, 
were greatly improved. The cust of this to the Improvement 
and Repair Fund was $650. 
Small Mammal House Repairs.—The condition of the inte- 
rior cages on the west side of this building had become so bad 
that it was necessary to remove and rebuild the entire series, 
on improved plans. After the general requirements for these 
cages had been obtained from the Mammal Department, Mr. De 
Wellworth, in charge of the ironworkers, made detailed plans 
for this work, under the direction of Mr. Merkel. 
The new plans did away with all woodwork, substituting 
therefor floors of concrete and Tileine and roofs of glass and 
steel. All cage partitions and ends were supplied with sanitary 
bases, and were carefully waterproofed. All pockets or recesses 
in which dirt might accumulate were eliminated. The iron 
framework was simplified, and the design of the wirework so 
changed that all surfaces are accessible for cleaning and paint- 
ing. Reinforced concrete gutters were substituted for the un- 
sightly and unsanitary lead-lined iron gutters. The many de- 
mands of the great variety of animals of various sizes and habits 
