84 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
cately tested respiration apparatus with numerous chambers for 
varying sizes of reptiles has been installed in the Reptile House 
of the Park, and daily observations under the technical direction 
of Mr. Colbert Mason of the Nutrition Laboratory have been in 
progress since October 28, 1915. Thus far the python, boa and 
rattlesnake have been especially studied, and a most interesting 
series of observations on the giant tortoise from the Galapagos 
Islands completed. 
“It is believed that the material is being collected upon such 
a scale that, when it is deemed practicable to publish the results, 
definite conclusions can be drawn. Reports of the work will be 
published from time to time, as the collection of data justifies, 
in the publications of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.” 
CENSUS OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 
January 1, 1916. 
Species Specimens 
Chelonta 2 See en ee 36 138 
@rocodiliam cas te wet eee ee 6 54 
WAC ently = ee cane ee ia 91 
Ophidiags et. ee ees ail 235 
7 eN1 0101) 01 4 OUI We Paes Orne Be Peers < WOE eta AT Dales 
AP OG no oe ee iit eee ISK 791 
SUMMARY OF COLLECTIONS. 
A census of the animals in the Zoological Park, taken Janu- 
ary 1, 1916, is as follows: 
Species Specimens 
MiaimmMmalsey ss) ee PALI 636 
Birds; ses a os ate a areca 813 Zhe 
ep Uilest atare. emer ee 110 518 
Aim pi bias, see ee AT 273 
MOA S, see en ee eee, ese 4,200 
GROUND IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE WORK OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND CONSTRUCTION. 
Hermann W. Merkel, Chief Constructor and Forester; 
E. H. Costain, Assistant Forester. 
The first work to be started by the ground improvement 
fund was the replacing of the poultry house at the Nursery, and 
the erection of a brooder and incubator house, both of which 
