32 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
ually increased, until it now numbers 340 species of mammals, birds, 
and reptiles represented by 1,362 individuals. 
Among the 325 accessions during the year I may mention as of spe- 
cial interest a male hippopotamus, a pair of young Bengal tigers, a 
pair of young lions, a sable antelope, and an American white crane. 
Among some specimens received from the Zoological Garden at Giza, 
Egypt, was a pair of young African elephants. Thirty-eight in- 
dividual donors contributed birds, reptiles, and other animals. 
Popular interest in the park is shown by the fact that the number 
of visitors during the year was 733,277, or a daily average of 2,009, 
being an increase of 100,000 over the previous year. In the interest 
of education in nature study many schools, classes, ete., visit the park 
accompanied by their teachers; such groups during thie year num- 
bered 3,172 individuals. 
The improvements in quarters for the animals and for the comfort 
of visitors are reviewed by the superintendent in Appendix 4. Ten 
breeding pens, in a yard 40 by 56 feet, were built to provide for the 
breeding and study of mink in cobwerntion with the Depar tment of 
Agriculture. 
The rough stone or bowlder bridge across Rock Creek, appropria- 
tion for ane was made during the previous fiscal year, was opened 
to travel on November 1, 1913. 
Perhaps the most important feature of the year in connection with 
the Zoological Park was an appropriation by Congress which became 
available for the purchase of about 10 acres to extend the western 
boundary of the park to Connecticut Avenue, between Cathedral 
Avenue and Klingle Road. Legal proceedings necessary to the trans- 
fer of this property had not been completed at the close of the year. 
A new roadway to the park has been made to replace Quarry Road, 
which had a very steep and dangerous gradient. 
Among the important needs, some of which have been urged in 
former reports, are (a) a suitable house for the care and preservation 
of the birds of the collection; (6) an adequate reptile house; (¢) a 
pachyderm house; and (d) a hospital and laboratory. Attention is 
called to the statements of the superintendent urging these several 
needs, particularly with regard to the laboratory. 
There is need, too, for extending the scope of classes of animals in 
the park, particularly those of common interest to the public, such as 
the gorilla, orang, and chimpanzee, giraffe, East African buffalo, and 
mountain goats and sheep. 
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY. 
The work of the Astrophysical Observatory, described in detail 
in the report of its director, has comprised observations and compu- 
tations at Washington and in the field relating to the quantity of 
