36 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1910. 



sentations of the department through the American ambassador at 

 Berlin, have been given favorable consideration on the part of the 

 German authorities, in connection with the establishment, under the 

 direction of that Government, of the America Institute in Berlin — 

 an institution for the fostering of cultural relations between Germany 

 and the United States. While the Smithsonian Institution has not 

 thus far received definite information of the actual establishment of 

 this institute, it is learned through Dr. Hugo Miinsterberg — Harvard 

 exchange professor to the Universit}' of Berlin, who is to be the first 

 director of this America institute, and who has taken a very active 

 interest in the whole matter — that it is intended to have the institute 

 assume, as one of is functions, the interchange of publications between 

 Germany and the United States. 



NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



The National Zoological Park was established in 1890 " for the ad- 

 vancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the peo- 

 ple." The area covered by the park is 167 acres along the Rock 

 Creek Valley, about 2 miles north of the center of Washington, in a 

 region well adapted by nature for the purpose for which it is used. 

 During the past twenty years improvements have gradually been 

 made as appropriations have permitted by the laying out of drive- 

 ways and walks and the construction of bridges to render access 

 easy for visitors through connections with the city thoroughfares and 

 with the roadways of Rock Creek Park to the north of the Zoological 

 Park. From year to year likewise the comfort and care of the col- 

 lections have been improved by the laying out of ponds and yards 

 and the construction of bird cages, bear dens, and buildings suited 

 to the habits of the various animals. Among the improvements of the 

 past year I may mention that six new large cages were built for the 

 lions and other large cats; the antelope house was enlarged by an 

 extension 50 by 50 feet, furnishing 10 additional stalls with com- 

 modious } T ards, and a new entrance to the building; and a suitable 

 pool 47 by 96 feet was made for the sea lions and seals. 



There remains, ho.wever, much to be done to provide adequate 

 accommodations for the collections that are gradually increasing in 

 number and in value, as well as improved facilities for the great 

 and increasing number of visitors to the park. 



To a large extent the animals still have to be kept in temporary 

 quarters, which are insufficient and unsuitable, and are costly to 

 maintain because of the repairs that are constantly required. This is 

 especialty true of the temporary building used for birds. The park 

 has a fine series of birds, some of them of great rarity and interest, 

 and they would make a most valuable exhibit if properly housed. 



