SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 41 
and represents the taste of Hessrs. Heins & La Farge. The Com- 
mittee takes this opportunity of thanking Mrs. Sturgis for this 
very welcome memorial gift. 
The chief changes of the year in this wilder portion of the Park 
are in the further provision for our collection of bears, and for 
our rapidly growing collection of wild sheep and goats. The Bear 
Dens have been extended to the south by the addition of four new 
dens, admirably designed by Mr. Beerbower, the rock work exe- 
cuted under the direction of Mr. Merkel. These dens will enable 
us to increase the number of bears on exhibition, and provide for 
a more scientific grouping and arrangement than has heretofore 
been possible. The completion of the Mountain Sheep Hill is a 
notably successful installation in this portion of the Park. It is 
after the original design of Mr. Hornaday, about which the Com- 
mittee felt some hesitation, owing to the large amount of artificial 
rock-work involved. The idea has been carried out under the 
direction of Mr. Merkel and has proved to be not only practical 
but beautiful ; the rocky sky-line afforded by these installations is 
admirably natural and beautiful. We have already installed a 
number of extremely interesting specimens of wild sheep and 
goats, chiefly from the Himalayan region. 
The service of the Rocking Stone Restaurant has been greatly 
improved during the year by throwing open the south pavilion 
to the public, which is now used as an open air restaurant. 
According to our original intention, the eastern end of the 
Reptile House has been fitted up for the reception of tortoises, 
and will be used for this purpose during the summer of 1903. 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK EAST OF THE BOSTON ROAD 
One of the special grounds upon which the application of the 
new bond issue was based was the desire of the Society to protect 
and develop that beautiful portion of the Park lying east of the 
Bronx River, not heretofore enclosed. The first feature of the 
improvement was the construction of a walk along the east side 
of the Bronx Lake, it being the intention of the Society to utilize 
the whole area at present simply as a pleasure resort. Adequate 
protection for this beautiful forest is afforded by a new line of 
fencing completely enclosing our eastern boundary. 
The condition of the Bronx River requires immediate attention 
on the part of the City authorities, and the expenditure of a very 
considerable sum of money if it is to be preserved and made 
healthful. The condition of the Serpentine River in London in 
Hyde Park shows that it is practicable to preserve an ancient 
