REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 55 



grinding of drains in front of the cages ; grinding of Y5 linear feet of 

 terrazzo gutter in the floor of the bird house; completion of a stone 

 building 15 by 88 feet, roofing of same, construction of dens in the 

 building and cages outside for the housing of hardy outdoor animals 

 of medium size (this structure is known as the outdoor Cat House 

 and replaces a group of unsightly dilapidated cages formerly on this 

 site) ; construction of 800 linear feet of stone wall, grading and plant- 

 ing adjacent to the Cat House; construction of a concrete pool of 

 irregular shape 20 by 60 feet and 2 feet in depth, partially surrounded 

 by a shallow moat, low concrete wall and guard rail (for swans, cor- 

 morants, and pelicans), and planting of trees and shrubbery adjacent 

 thereto; construction of a stone wall to retain and protect the high 

 bluff at the south end of the eagle flight cage and planting of 

 shrubbery thereon ; surfacing with broken concrete and stone of 2,500 

 square yards of hillside road excavated under C. W. A. and the 

 placing of 1,000 linear feet of Belgian block gutter at the edge of this 

 road; construction of two double and six single rustic drinking 

 fountains with terrazzo bowls and installation of these about the 

 park; considerable painting; grounds improvement consisting of 

 removal of perennial weeds from lawns, making of minor fills, seed- 

 ing with grass seed, removal of excess shrubbery, including an 

 intensive campaign against poison ivy, removal of dead trees and 

 limbs that were dangerous over about 100 acres of the park ; planting 

 of a few trees and shrubs, with the result that the grounds are now 

 in much better condition than ever before. 



In addition to the materials furnished by the E. W. A., materials 

 were purchased from park funds so far as possible for use by the 

 labor assigned by the E. W. A., and in this manner the accomplish- 

 ments were of much more lasting benefit than would otherwise have 

 been possible. 



This opportunity is taken to place on record our keen appreciation 

 of the valuable and cordial assistance rendered by the District 

 E. W. A. officials, particularly Capt. Howard F. Clark and William 

 C. Cleary. 



Through the cooperation of W. L. Corbin, Smithsonian librarian, 

 the Zoo was permitted to select from the considerable mass of sur- 

 plus publications accmnulated by the Institution a large number of 

 volumes and pamphlets on vertebrate zoology that will be valuable 

 additions to the Zoo library. Also through his office, arrangements 

 were made with the officials of the Library of Congress for the Zoo 

 library to select a number of publications that will be useful. The 

 repairing, cataloging, accessioning, and filing of these publications 

 in the Zoo library remains to be done. 



