90 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1916. 



area near the building for quarantine quarters for such animals as 

 do not require artificial heat. Many of the chestnut trees surround- 

 ing the building became blasted by the " chestnut blight " and had to 

 be cut down. A roadway of tar-bound macadam was constructed 

 about the building connecting with the nearest main driveway. Con- 

 nection with the nearest sewer (in Klingle Road) has been effected. 

 Preparation should now be made to put the laboratory into effective 

 operation. A modest supply of the necessary apparatus should be 

 furnished in order that suitable facilities may be available for post 

 mortem examination by the Government bureaus cooperating with 

 the Zoological Park. 



Attention has previously been called to the fact that the topog- 

 raphy of the park is so irregular that it is difficult to find building 

 sites with attached yards in convenient situations without extensive 

 grading. A- case in point occurs at the site of the barn which has 

 been used for bison and other hoofed animals. The building here, 

 made of logs with bark on, has become unsightly by decay and re- 

 quires extensive repairs. It is situated on a hill of small elevation, 

 but the slopes of which are sufficiently steep to cause continual 

 erosion when it is worn by the hoofs of the animals. It was there- 

 fore thought best to grade down this hill and fill up the adjoining 

 gullies, much enlarging the area of the yards. In order to do this 

 effectively, it was necessary to borrow earth from the prominent ridge 

 that extends from the zebu house northwesterly to the camel yards. 

 About 25,000 square feet will be added to the level ground previously 

 available. Only a portion of this work will be defrayed from the 

 current appropriation,- the remainder from next year's appropriation. 

 The work was let out b}' contract, very favorable terms being se- 

 cured. The additional paddocks thus obtained will be used, in part, 

 for the exhibition of the beautiful ruminants presented to the park 

 by the Duke of Bedford. 



New sheds were built in the property yard for temporarily housing 

 these animals and others displaced during the alteration of their 

 regular quarters. 



A needed convenience was provided at the elephant's quarters by 

 installing, at small cost, hydraulic lifts to raise the heavy doors which 

 give access to the outside yards. 



The inclosure for ducks near the flight cage was reconstructed to 

 make it safe from raccoons, etc. 



A concrete driveway was constructed in the rear of the bear yards 

 to provide for convenient transfer of animals and care of the 

 quarters. 



A motor truck was purchased during the year to haul food sup- 

 plies, for which a trip is made every day except Sunday to the market 



