44 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
patience and loyalty to the undertaking, which has been a con- 
stant surprise and gratification. As quickly as the materials 
could be procured, the imperfect walks of last winter were wholly 
resurfaced, seats were provided, a temporary lunch-room was 
hastily fitted up by the Society in the east end of the Reptile House 
and opened to visitors, a soda fountain was established, ice water 
provided, and a large shelter pavilion erected. Visitors have been 
permitted to open their boxes of luncheon in every portion of the 
grounds. While this has involved quite an amount of extra labor, 
the privilege has been so greatly enjoyed by visitors, that their 
pleasure in it has afforded compensation for the extra labor. 
RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC. 
So far as the Director is aware, the relations between the pub- 
lic and the employees of the Park have been generally satisfac- 
tory. Offences against the posted rules have been very few in 
number, and the great majority of such offences have been di- 
rected against the proper protection of the grounds. There are 
a few persons who.are provokingly slow in recognizing the fact 
that trees in the Park are not to be climbed and broken, that 
shrubbery must not be destroyed, and that wild flowers must not 
be dug up and carried away wholesale. 
Since the formal opening of the Park, there have been no 
serious cases of annoyance or cruelty to animals in the collec- 
tions. On the contrary, the extent to which visitors not only re- 
frain from annoying or injuring the animals, but actually co- 
operate in their protection, has been to the Society a source of 
profound satisfaction. 
Of complaints by the public against Park employees for rude 
treatment, only one case has been brought to the attention of the 
Director. This was quickly investigated and settled on a basis 
satisfactory to the aggrieved party. It is the belief of the under- 
signed that all the permanent employees of the Park, from the 
highest to the lowest, are faithfully striving to carry out the 
wishes of the Society, that all visitors to the Park who conduct 
themselves properly should be accorded the most polite and help- 
ful consideration. 
The rules and regulations adopted at the opening of the Park 
have proven to be well adapted, both to the regulation of the 
