APPENDIX 4. 



REPORT ON THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the National Zoological Park for the fiscal year ending June 

 30, 1920: 



The appropriation allowed by Congress in the sundry civil act for 

 the maintenance of the park was the same as for the preceding year, 

 $115,000, with the usual additional allotment of $200 for printing 

 and binding. With the cost of almost all of the supplies necessary 

 for the maintenance of such an establishment increasing constantly, 

 only a comparatively small part of this amount could be used for 

 repairs and improvements of any kind. Such permanent improve- 

 ments as were effected were made possible by the purchase of much 

 of the necessary material during the preceding year. The grounds, 

 roads and walks, buildings, and inclosures have, however, been kept 

 in good condition by the regular force of employees, although many 

 much needed repairs not actually urgent have been postponed. The 

 number of animals in the collection shows an increase over that of 

 last year; and the attendance reached a new mark of over ^,000,000 

 visitors. 



ACCESSIONS. 



Gifts. — Animals to the number of 127 were presented by friends 

 of the park or were placed on indefinite deposit. It is gratifying 

 that the park is becoming more and more appreciated as the natural 

 depository for pet or captive wild animals no longer desired by their 

 owners. Many important specimens, including parrots and other 

 cage birds, reach the collection as gifts. The owners of such animals 

 feel that their pets will not only enrich the national collections but 

 that they will have the most expert care and kindly treatment. 



Most noteworthy among the gifts for the year are four accessions 

 from tropical America, which included several species new to the 

 collection. Mr. W. J. La Varre, jr., of Washington, D. C, during 

 an extended trip up the Amazon River and some of its tributaries 

 collected a number of desirable animals which he presented to the 

 park. Mr. La Varre's collection included a specimen of the rare 

 black-headed ouakari monkey {Cacajo melanocephalus) , a species 



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