TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT 83 
tralia and elsewhere did not materially increase our death rate 
‘during the past year. All of these shipments came in such 
excellent condition that the animals soon adjusted themselves 
to their new environment and quickly became acclimated. 
Because of the threatened danger of introducing serious in- 
fectious diseases into this country through our importation of 
animals from Africa, the Bureau of Animal Industry of the 
United States Department of Agriculture was reluctant to lift 
the embargo, and upon the shipment’s arrival in this country 
their representatives supervised the debarkation of these animals 
with great care. We were, however, able to meet all the require- 
ments to their entire satisfaction. It is gratifying to report 
that none of these animals have died since their arrival in the 
Park. 
The rare mountain zebra acquired in this African shipment 
arrived not a minute too soon, because when released from its 
crate it was seen to be in an exhausted state bordering on col- 
lapse; but after a few days in a sunny yard, and with mild 
weather, it soon gained in strength and vigor and is now in good 
condition. 
About 50% of the deaths during the past year were among 
the small mammals, and the greater number of these were 
among the less important rodents, which are necessarily more 
closely confined in order to be satisfactorily exhibited. The 
small mammal collection is one of the most difficult to maintain 
owing to the close confinement, and the constant difficulty ex- 
perienced in obtaining the great variety of food the various 
species are accustomed to find under normal conditions of free- 
dom. 
On two occasions distemper appeared among the smaller 
carnivores in the Small-Mammal House. The disease was intro- 
duced through recently acquired animals, and a number died or 
were destroyed in order to stamp out the infection. Distemper 
also appeared in a wolf which Was isolated and recovered after 
treatment with distemper serum. 
For the first time in several years skin diseases, both sar- 
coptic mange and ring-worm, were found in new arrivals, but in 
these cases the animals were promptly isolated and successfully 
treated. 
