44 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



For the Prairie Dog colony a fine, open knoll near the Antelopes' 

 Range has been encircled by a stone wall going down to bed rock, 

 and thoroughly drained. The enclosure is eighty feet in diameter, 

 and the earth within it is undisturbed virgin soil, admirably adapted 

 to the wants of burrowing animals. The depth of earth varies 

 from three to eight feet. The wall is now ready to receive the iron 

 fence, which has been completed and will be erected very shortly. 



The Burrowing Rodents' Quarters represent a feature never 

 yet seen in a zoological garden, — a series of thirteen roomy open 

 yards of clean, dry soil, each enclosure to contain either one or 

 two important representative species of our native marmots and 

 ground squirrels, of which our fauna possesses such an immense 

 number of distinct forms. The stone walls of this installation are 

 now complete, and the iron-work will be added early in the sum- 

 mer. 



The Mountain Sheep's Hill and shelter-house are so far from 

 completion that further reference to them will be deferred; and 

 the same may be said of the Otters' Pool and Pheasants' Aviary. 

 It is hoped that both these, however, will be completed during 

 the spring. 



To obtain a large summer pool for the use of the crocodiles and 

 alligators, a beautiful natural basin in the granite ledge adjacent 

 to the southeastern corner of the Reptile House has been length- 

 ened by excavating soil and rock, to a total length of lOO feet. 

 Thanks to the natural seams in the rock, the sides of the pool are 

 of Nature's own finish, and no signs of blasting will be visible. 

 The pool is water-tight, and when enclosed by a suitable iron fence 

 it will undoubtedly prove a very novel and attractive feature of 

 the reptilian display. This will be ready for use about June i. 



On such work as that involved in the foregoing installations 

 the Society has found it very advantageous to employ intelligent 

 ■ laborers — citizens of this country and city — working by the day. 

 Under capable and conscientious foremen, and a fair rate of pay. 

 the Society has been able to accomplish some very difficult work 

 in a satisfactory manner, in quick time, and at very reasonable 

 cost. It is a pleasure to state that even the day laborers employed 

 by the Society take a personal interest in their work, and willingly 

 render as diligent service as we are accustomed to believe can be 

 obtained only by contractors. It is to be understood, however, 

 that selection has much to do with the formation of a good force 

 of workmen. 



