42 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the summer of 1898. At its inception, the Director applied to the 

 Park Department for the Borough of the Bronx for a force of men 

 to work under his supervision in mowing weeds, grass, and brush 

 from the sites of various installations for animals which were about 

 to be erected. The labor requested was immediately supplied by 

 Commissioner Moebus, and one after another the sites of the Bird 

 House, Flying Cage, Reptile House, Bear Dens, and Wolf and 

 Fox Dens were cleared. This force was kept at work until all the 

 rank weeds which obstructed our surveys had been mown down 

 and burned. Finding that in several places quantities of unsightly 

 and worthless bushes still obstructed the lines of walks and fences, 

 two picked men, one furnished by the Park Department and one 

 by the Society, were detailed to clear away such underbrush as 

 was from time to time marked by the Director in person for re- 

 moval. This removal of underbrush was chiefly confined to pro- 

 posed fence lines, walks, and pond sites, and carefully avoided 

 interference with any shrubbery which may become of landscape 

 value. 



With the completion of this clearance work it was possible to 

 see, satisfactorily and adequately, the exact character of each por- 

 tion of the Park which is to be utilized as an individual feature, 

 and the advantages gained by this work very greatly benefited 

 subsequent work. 



Prior to August i our engineer made an elaborate series of 

 profiles of the ground and rock ledges which enter into the con- 

 struction of the twelve large open-air yards for bears, wolves, and 

 foxes, and also prepared suitable ground plans for the three series 

 of dens. Owing to the fact that the steel cage-work is to be fitted 

 against, and also upon, irregular ledges of natural rock, the en- 

 gineering work necessary was very considerable in amount, as well 

 as exacting in its requirements. 



Not only were all the fourteen improvements now under con- 

 struction accurately located and staked out by the Society's em- 

 ployees, but also the fence lines and shelter houses of all the ranges 

 for large game, and all the buildings of Baird's Court. All masonry 

 and excavating done by the cubic foot under contract is measured 

 and calculated by our own force, and a very considerable amount 

 of general work has been done under the personal supervision of 

 our engineer. 



