REPOBT OF THE SECRETARY. 89 



The death rate remains very low ; for mammals and birds about as 

 in the past four years; for reptiles much lower. Among the most 

 serious losses of mammals long in the collection must be mentioned 

 the death of the vicuna {Lama vicugna) from enteritis on Septem- 

 ber 7, 1920. This animal was received at the park on November 24, 

 1908, and thus had been in the collection nearly 12 years. A female 

 zebu {Bos indicus), received when about 3 years old, on April 11, 

 1899, died on March 25, 1921, only a few days under 22 years from 

 date of arrival. A male American elk, born in the park May 31, 

 1910, died November 5, 1920. The male Kenai Peninsula black bear 

 {Ursus americanus pemiger) , received when a cub of about 2 years 

 of age, March 5, 1903, died of internal hemorrhage, June 23, 1921, 

 after 18 years and 3 months in the park. A coyote {Canis la- 

 trans), received April 26, 1906, died September 28, 1920; a paca 

 {Cuniculus paca), received April 11, 1908, died January 3, 1921, of 

 acute congestion of the lungs; and a brown macaque {Macaca 

 speciosa), received July 30, 1910, died of gastroenteritis on Novem- 

 ber 26, 1920. 



Three birds with long records were lost during the year. A red- 

 and-blue macaw {Ava chloroptera) , received as a gift from the gov- 

 ernor of the State of Para, Brazil, August 7, 1899, died nearly 21 

 years later, on July 3, 1920. A yellow-shouldered parrot {Amazona 

 barbadensis) , received from Hon. E. H. Plumacher, American consul 

 at Maracaibo, Venezuela, September 10, 1902, died on January 26, 

 1921; and a demoiselle crane, received July 2, 1903, died on June 18, 

 1921. 



Other serious losses were a female bison, died of metritis, July 7. 

 1920; a male llama, acute congestion of lungs, July 25, 1920; and a 

 male prong-horned antelope, anemia, October 13, 1920. 



Post-mortem examinations were made by the pathological division 

 of the Bureau of Animal Industry, and, in four cases, by the Army 

 Medical Museum. The following list shows the results of autopsies, 

 the cases being arranged by groups : 



CAUSES OF DEATH. 

 MAMMALS. 



Marsupialia : Tuberculosis, 2 ; congestion of lungs, 1 ; pleurisy and peri- 

 carditis, 1 ; enteritis, 1 ; peritonitis, 1 ; pyemia, 1 ; septicemia, 1. 



Carnivora : Pneumonia, 2 ; tuberculosis, 1 ; gastroenteritis, 2 ; internal hem- 

 orrhage, 3 ; leukemia, 1. 



Rodentia: Congestion of lungs, 1. 



Primates : Tuberculosis, 5 ; enteritis, 5 ; gastroenteritis, 2 ; colitis, 1 ; 

 echinococcus infestation, 1 ; cage paralysis, 1. 



Artiodactyla : Pneumonia, 1; verminous broncho-pneumonia, 1; tuberculosis, 

 1 ; congestion of lungs, 1 ; enteritis, 2 ; gastritis, 1 ; gastroenteritis, 1 ; metritis, 

 1 ; anemia, 3 ; accident, 1. 



