74 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1917. 



Births. — Fifty- two mammals were born, and 41 birds were hatched 

 during the year. The births include 3 bears, 1 hippopotamus, 8 red 

 deer, 1 Bedford deer, 2 elk, 2 mule deer, 2 Virginia deer, 1 fallow deer, 

 1 axis deer, 2 hog deer, 4 barasingha deer, 3 Japanese deer, 1 black 

 buck, 1 yak, 3 bison, 1 Rocky Mountain sheep, 1 aoudad, 2 guanacos, 

 3 llamas, 2 great red kangaroos, 1 wallaroo, 6 coypus, and 1 monkey. 

 The birds hatched include Canada geese, ducks, Java sparrows, and 

 peafowl. The hippopotamus is the first one born in the park, and 

 one of very few ever born in America. It is a thrifty male and has 

 attracted great attention. 



Exchanges. — In exchange for surplus animals the park received 

 12 mammals and 62 birds. A drill, a young male sea lion, a pair 

 of scarlet ibises, and numerous ducks for the North American water- 

 fowl lake were obtained in this manner, as well as other species much 

 needed to fill gaps in the collection. 



Purchases. — Owing to lack of sufficient funds for the purchase of 

 animals, many desirable species greatly needed in the collection, 

 and offered from time to time, could not be obtained. A total of 

 26 mammals, 23 birds, and 22 reptiles were received through pur- 

 chase, mostly small native species at low cost. 



Transfers. — Four elk were received from Yellowstone Park 

 through the Department of the Interior, but only two reached Wash- 

 ington in good condition and were saved. There were shipped east 

 with a carload of elk for the State of Virginia, and were obtained 

 with the idea of introducing new blood in the herd maintained at 

 the park. The Biological Survey, of the Department of Agriculture, 

 transferred to the park certain North American mammals, including 

 a mountain lion from Arizona, a dusky marmot from New Mexico, 

 and some mountain beavers from Washington. 



Captured in the park. — One bird and one reptile captured within 

 the boundaries of the park, were added to the collection. 



Deposited. — Hon. R. M. Barnes, of Lacon, Illinois, sent to the park 

 as a loan a male of the almost extinct trumpeter swan, one of the 

 finest species of North American waterfowl. The park owned a single 

 female of this rare swan and efforts are now being made to mate 

 these surviving birds and preserve the species from extinction. The 

 two swans are quartered in an ideal place, and although they were 

 apparently placed together too late to breed this season, hopes are 

 entertained that by next spring they will be sufficiently familiar with 

 their surroundings to nest. A number of fur-bearing animals from 

 the Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, and 

 some rhesus monkeys from the Hygienic Laboratory were received 

 on temporary deposit. 



