148 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1957 



During this fiscal year $15,310.87 was utilized for terminal leave 

 payments for retiring personnel. Funds are not appropriated for this 

 purpose. In order to absorb this amount it was necessary to main- 

 tain vacancies throughout the year. To meet this unique situation 

 all employees had to put forth extra effort. Their loyalty and de- 

 votion to the Zoo and their hard work have been reflected in the 

 excellent health of the animals and the general appearance of the 

 Zoo. Great credit is due the employees for their cooperation during 

 this trying time. 



Other personnel items referring to retirements are mentioned at the 

 beginning of this report. 



INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 



The Zoo continues to handle a large correspondence with persons 

 all over the world who write for information regarding animals. 

 From every part of this country citizens write to the Zoo as a national 

 institution. Telephone calls come in constantly, asking for identifica- 

 tion of animals, proper diets, or treatment of disease. Visitors to the 

 office as well as to the animal exhibits are constantly seeking 

 information. 



The Acting Director spoke before three civic groups and made one 

 television appearance. 



The Assistant Director made one television appearance, in which 

 he showed the feeding and handling of gorillas. On another occa- 

 sion, the Zoo's three baby lion cubs appeared on television. 



Two groups of naval medical officers were taken on a tour of the 

 Zoo, special attention being paid to those animals which are reservoirs 

 of human infection, and those with which they might come in contact 

 at their stations. 



Malcolm Davis, assistant head keeper, in charge of birds, continues 

 to contribute notes and observations to ornithological journals and 

 publications. He helped revise "Parrots Exclusively" and assisted in 

 the preparation of "Pet Mynas," both published by All-Pets Magazine. 



Mario DePrato, principal keeper in charge of the reptile house, 

 talked before a Navy Research group on poisonous reptiles. On a 

 collecting trip in Florida and another in the Dismal Swamp, Va., Mr. 

 DePrato gathered a number of interesting reptiles, which were added 

 to the collection. 



Travis Fauntleroy, administrative assistant, and Ralph Norris, head 

 keeper, were sent to the Cincinnati Zoo for two days to study manage- 

 ment problems and animal-handling techniques. 



While the Zoo does not conduct a regular research program as such, 

 every effort is made to study the animals, and to improve their health, 

 housing, and diet in any way possible. 



