REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 63 



It is believed tliat this work was nnnsually successful. This walk was not 

 entirel}' completed at the close of the year, but will soou be finished. The 

 total cost will be about $2,000, of which $1,350 was expended during the j-ear. 



A concrete walk along the front and west side of the small mammal house, 

 for which a contract was made under the previous year's appropriation, was 

 completed soon after the beginning of the year. This walk was exterided to the 

 temporary bird house. 



BUILDINGS AND INCLOSXTRES. 



The outdoor cages on the west side of the small mammal house were com- 

 pleted and are now in use. The floors of these cages have a base of stone, set 

 after the manner of Telford pavement, with from 2 to 3 inches of eai'th over it. 

 The fronts and top are constructed of three-eighths-inch round steel, and the 

 partitions are of wire netting with three-quarter-inch square mesh. This net- 

 ting is double, with a space of 4 inches between the two, so that animals in 

 adjoining cages can not injure one another. 



The two additional bear yards built from the previous year's appropriation 

 were completed early in this year, and occupied. A concrete walk 12 feet wide 

 was constructed in front of these and of the two j-ards previously built. Two 

 more yards, work on which was begun in April, have been constructed mainly 

 from this j'ear's appropriation. It is expected that the four yards required to 

 complete the entire series of ten will be completed during the year 190S-9. 



Work was begun on inclosures for pheasants and other game birds, and this 

 will be completed early in the coming year. 



A considerable amount of repair work has been necessary on buildings and 

 inclosures during the current year. The west wall of the antelope house and 

 a portion of the north end had to be rebuilt. Owing to lack of sufficient 

 funds for better construction, this building was originally constructed in the 

 cheapest materials, and the west wall was so much decayed that it was weak 

 and unsafe. Several other parts of the building had been repaired in previ- 

 ous years. The roof of the temporary portion of the lion house was leaking 

 badly and had to be repaired and the skylights thoroughly overhauled and re- 

 paired. The roof of the temporary bird house was also repaired. The feuce 

 of the inclosures about the llama house was entirely rebuilt. The buffalo 

 fence also required repair and a considerable amount of new fencing, and con- 

 siderable repair work had to be done on various other wire fences. 



The buildiug occupied as an aquarium is rapidly reaching a state when it 

 must either be entirely rebuilt or wholly demolished. It will be remembered 

 that it was originally a hay shed built in the most temporary manner out^ of 

 A^irgiuia pine lumber, and that constant repairs have been required to keep it 

 in a condition for occupancy. The foundations on which the tanks rest are 

 sinking and several of the larger plate-glass fronts have been cracked so that 

 they can not be used. 



The gates at Adams Mill road and Quarry road entrances which had been 

 taken down in order to make way for changes in the street approaches, were 

 replaced and arrangements made to close the park at 9 p. m. 



A considerable amount of planting was done during the year, the area about 

 the small mammal house and extending toward the lion house was brought to 

 the final grade, covered with soil, and planted. The banks near the flying cage 

 were also planted, and shade trees and shrubs were set in various other places. 

 Nut-bearing trees and bushes were also planted to furnish food for squirrels. 



Plans for a hospital and laboratory building were prepared during the year, 

 but construction of the building was deferred, as all availabe funds were needed 

 for other purposes. 



