28 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



all the above were submitted to the Board of Parks, and approved 

 by that body one week later. On July 14th the Executive Com- 

 mittee ordered, in addition to the above, the construction of other 

 installations for animals, one of which was the Reptile House, to 

 cost a total of $62,500. 



On August 15th ground was broken for the Winter House for 

 Birds, and a contract was made with William Wilson for the Elk 

 House. On August 17th work began on the construction of the 

 Elk House, and on August i8th the plans of the Reptile House 

 were approved by the Park Board. On August 226. ground was 

 broken for the Reptile House. On August 29th the Park Depart- 

 ment began the work of excavating the south pond. On Septem- 

 ber 7th work began at the Bear Dens, and on September 13th work 

 began on the stone wall to enclose the Prairie Dogs' Knoll. A 

 trench was dug to bed rock, the depth of earth varying from two 

 to eight feet. The enclosure is circular in form, and its diameter 

 is eighty feet. On September 21st the excavation for the Buffalo 

 House was begun. On September 26th a force of men began to 

 excavate for the water-courses at the Ducks' Aviary, and con- 

 struct three islands. On October loth the same force began to 

 excavate the Beaver Pond. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY WORK COMPLETED TO MARCH 1 5, 1899. 



The Elk House has been completed in all respects, except the 

 bark-covered slabs, and fitted for temporary use as offices and work- 

 shops. 



The Bird House is ready to receive its cage work and boilers. 



The walls of the Reptile House have been completed, and the 

 roof will be added forthwith. 



The steel cage work for the first series of Bear Dens will arrive 

 about April 15th, and, with the exception of the sleeping dens, the 

 Bear Dens will be completed about May 15th. 



The excavation of ponds for the Ducks' Aviary and the con- 

 struction of three islands have been completed. On the south 

 island twelve enclosures have been laid out, two shelter houses 

 have been erected, and about one hundred native shrubs have been 

 planted. The iron fencing has been completed, and will be erected 

 at once. 



A stone wall, going down to bed rock, has been constructed 



