REPOET OF THE ACTING SECRETARY. 69 



unfit for occupation that a large amount of repairs to buildings and inclosures 

 was necessary during the 5'ear. The wire fences used for many of the inclo- 

 sures are seriously weakened and a general renewal will be necessary during 

 the coming year. 



Roadways and footpaths. — These have required somewhat extensive repairs. 

 The steep character of most of the roads makes it difficult to keep any surface 

 material on them. Heavy rains almost invariably wash off the surface layer, 

 leaving the larger stones of the macadam bare and subject to being torn up 

 by the feet of horses and the wheels of carriages. To put the roads in proper 

 condition it will be necessary to expend considerable sums, which can not be 

 spared from the existing appropriation. Much trouble is also experienced 

 with the footpaths. They are usually made, as are the roads, with a base of 

 broken stone and a surface of pulverized limestone. After nearly every rain 

 considerable repairs are required, which constitute an important item of 

 expense. It would doubtless be cheaper in the end to put in at once, on the 

 steeper slopes, properly constructed concrete walks. 



The extension of the city streets on the eastern side of the park has occasioned 

 an elevation of the roads, making slopes which are very unsightly and down 

 which a large amount of loose material is washed by rains into the park. In 

 order to preserve the natural beauty of this region it will be necessary to pro- 

 tect the grounds from invasions of this character, both by planting the slopes 

 and by suitably raising the grades in the park. 



'New sm-vey and map. — The survey of the park, commenced last year, has been 

 extended over about 40 acres more. This work is of great practical utility, and 

 it is hoped to eventually map the entire park in this manner. 



Electric lighting. — A local company having extended a conduit for electric 

 lighting as far as the entrance to the park, advantage was taken of this to 

 run wires to the office building and stable, which have never been furnished 

 heretofore with any fixed lights. It may be advisable to light also some of the 

 darker roadwaj's in the park, which are quite tortuous and narrow, and there- 

 fore dangerous at night. 



Important accessions by gift. — Young male zebra and young male lion from Ras 

 Makonnen, governor of Harrar Province, Abyssinia, who also sent a female 

 zebra and a male oryx antelope, but these latter two died en route. 



Polar bear, through W. S. Champ, from Zeigler Polar Relief Expedition. 



From Capt. C. E. Radclyffe, Hyde, Wareham, England, 2 red deer. 



From R. McM. Gillespie, president Chesapeake Western Railway Company, 

 3 black bears. 



From Hon. E. H. Plumacher, American consul at Maracaibo, Venezuela, sev- 

 eral Venezuelan mammals and birds. 



Accessions hy exchange. — From the New Zealand government, 1 kiwi, 1 kea, 

 3 flightless rails, and 1 tuatera lizard. 



From the department of crown lands, Province of Ontario, Canada, 10 black 

 squirrels. 



From the New York Zoological Park, 4 Indian white cranes. 



From dealers in animals, 1 Alaskan brown bear, a fine male markhor goat, 

 and several other goats, sheep, and deer. 



Births. — The births, 127 in number, include 1 Brazilian tapir, 1 yak, 5 Bar- 

 bary sheep, 5 wapiti, 2 mule deer, 2 Columbian black-tailed deer, and deer 

 of several other species; also 2 monkeys and several kangaroos, besides a 

 number of wolves, arctic foxes, and other mammals. 



The bii-ds in the flying cage nested well and young were hatched by cormo- 

 rants, white ibis, sandhill cranes, and night herons. The pair of wild turkeys 

 which has the freedom of the park also nested and produced four young. 



