REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 105 
hibits. 'The new building will give opportunity to form a collection 
of living birds worthy of a national organization. The interest 
of the District Commissioners in its development is greatly ap- 
preciated. 
RADIO TALKS 
The popular appreciation of the Smithsonian series of radio talks 
having brought a request in March, 1925, for a second course, it was 
thought that the wide interest taken by the public in the National 
Zoological Park made that a suitable starting point for a series of 
nature talks. Accordingly such a series was planned and given 
under the title “Radio Nature Talks from the National Zoological 
Park.” Thirty-one talks were given between October 3 and May 22, 
through the cooperation of station WRC. Each opened with a brief 
statement of current news of the park, usually by the director, who 
then introduced the speaker of the evening. A 15-minute talk fol- 
lowed on some subject related to the work of the park. The 23 
speakers who participated were mainly from the several bureaus of 
the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Department of 
Agriculture, but several others also contributed. It is expected that 
the series will be resumed in September. 
The program for the year was as follows: 
October 3, 1925: Introduction to the Zoo and to Doctor Mann, by Mr. Austin H. 
Clark. The nature and purpose of this series of talks, by Dr. William M. Mann. 
October 10, 1925: Zoo notes and answers to questions, by Dr. William M. 
Mann. The Gorilla at Home, by Mr. C. R. Aschemeier, National Museum. 
October 17, 1925: Zoo notes and answers to questions, by Dr. William M. 
Mann. Giant Tortoises, by Miss Doris M. Cochran, National Museum. 
October 24, 1925: Behind the cages at the Zoo, by Dr. William M. Mann. 
October 31, 1925: What a small boy wants to know about the Zoo; a dialogue 
between Master Hugh U. Clark of the Cook School and Dr. William M. Mann. 
November 7, 1925: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. The Musk Ox at 
Home, by Mr. Edward A. Preble, Biological Survey. ; 
November 14, 1925: Zoo notes, by Mr. Austin H. Clark. Our Autumn Birds, 
by Mr. Frederick C. Lincoln, Biological Survey. 
November 21, 1925: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. Howlers and 
Spider Monkeys, by Maj. Hdward A. Goldman, Biological Survey. 
November 28, 1925: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. The Reptiles of the 
District of Columbia, by Mr. Maurice K. Brady. 
December 5, 1925: Collecting living Animals in South America, by Dr. 
William M. Mann. 
December 12, 1925: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. Whales, by Mr. 
Austin H. Clark, Smithsonian Institution. 
December 19, 1925: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. Our Winter Birds, 
by Mr. Clarence R. Shoemaker, National Museum. 
December 26, 1925: Parrots at Home, by Dr. Alexander Wetmore, assistant 
secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 
January 9, 1926: Zoo notes, by Dr. William M. Mann. The Natural History 
of Paradise Key, Fla., by Dr. Thomas . Snyder, Bureau of Entomology. 
