30 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSLITUTION, 1926 
ganyika Territory, Kast Africa, to secure for the park certain large 
and important African animals needed for the collection. This 
Smithsonian-Chrysler expedition left New York March 20, headed 
by Dr. W. M. Mann, director of the park, and at the close of the year 
a report was received of the capture of the first animals in the field 
by the expedition. 
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY 
A grant of $55,000 to Doctor Abbot was made during the year 
by the National Geographic Society for the purposes of: selecting 
the best site in the Eastern Hemisphere and of establishing and 
maintaining for about four years a third solar-observing station 
to cooperate with the two now operated by the Astrophysical 
Observatory for the measurement of solar variation. To select 
the best site for the new station, Doctor Abbot visited and ex- 
amined promising localities in Algeria, Egypt, Baluchistan, and 
South West Africa, finally giving preference to Brukkaros Mountain 
in South West Africa. Although extremely isolated, this mountain is 
otherwise most promising for the investigation. Two-thirds of the 
314-1Inch average annual rainfall occurs in February and March, 
when better conditions prevail at the two American stations, and 
good months may be expected at Brukkaros Mountain when observ- 
ing weather is poorest in America. Work was begun in April on 
the construction of the observing tunnel, dwelling, shop, reservoir, 
and garage, and the expedition is expected to leave this country in 
the autumn. The station will be manned by Mr. W. H. Hoover, 
director, and Mr. F. A. Greeley, assistant. 
Through the continued generosity of Mr. John A. Roebling, the 
station maintained for five years on Mount Harqua Hala, Ariz., was 
transferred to Table Mountain, Calif., in order to obtain better sky 
conditions. Mr. A. F. Moore, director of the Harqua Hala station, 
designed and superintended all of the construction of the new sta- 
tion, and regular observations were begun from Table Mountain in 
October, 1925. The high quality of the observing conditions has 
amply justified making the change. 
Mr. Roebling felt in 1924 that his part in supporting the solar 
radiation work should end with June 30, 1925. Letters were 
addressed to the National Academy of Sciences, the Chief of the 
Weather Bureau, and the director of the meteorological office of the 
Air Ministry of Great Britain, asking whether in their opinion the im- 
portance of the solar observations warranted asking for increased 
Government appropriations to cover the support of the Montezuma 
station. The replies were emphatic in stating that the work was of 
the highest value and importance, and Congress granted the necessary 
increase to continue the Chilean station. 
