148 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY 



liberal expanses of water for bathing, fine 

 boulders and massive tree-trunks for 

 intermediate decoration, and to provide 

 the bears with opportunities to disport 

 themselves despite the requirements of 

 enclosure and sanitation. 



In the great flying-cage, shown in its 

 final form in Fig 4, it seemed thorough- 

 ly practical to use a naturalistic treat- 

 ment. A fine background is secured by 

 an artificial clifif having a grotto which 

 forms a source of water-supply, from 

 which streams and lagoons are led over 

 the floor of the cage in a way to preserve 

 important trees, and to conform with 

 the irregular surface of the ground. The 

 margin of the cage is uniformly level, but 

 the center rises and falls as the trees and 

 ground conditions require. 



The actual construction of the bird 

 flying-cage is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. 

 Details will be found on these sheets for 

 the iron gates to be used by wagons en- 

 tering the cage for cleaning purposes or 

 to deliver sand for the beaches, sod, 

 shrubbery, loam and other materials. The 

 construction of the sand beaches upon an 

 underlying sheet of concrete, which per- 

 mits the replacement of the sand as it 

 becomes fouled, and the relation of the 

 boulders on the edge of the pools to this 

 concrete water treatment, are shown in 

 some detail. For practical purposes, it 

 is absolutely essential to protect all wa- 

 ter margins and all water bottoms in this 

 manner with concrete, to insure whole- 

 some living-conditions for the birds, and 

 maintenance at moderate cost. Were the 

 pools built of gravel and loam, the near- 

 by trees would shortly die from drown- 

 ing by water-seepage through the inter- 

 vening soil, and the pools and their mar- 

 gins would soon become clouded and 

 fouled by mud and filth. The hiding- 

 places provided in the rockwork for 

 pelicans and other birds, the shelves for 

 perching birds and for the reception of 

 sods and shrubbery, the continuous plat- 



form for plantations along the top of the 

 wall of hanging vines, shrubbery, and 

 small trees, are all shown on these plates. 

 These drawings also indicate a system of 

 water-supply for washing purposes, feed- 

 ing-platforms, and fences and planting 

 to keep the public at a proper distance. 



The relation between the flying-cage 

 already constructed and the bird-house 

 which is to be erected, and their com- 

 bined relation to an artificial pond, to a 

 lawn for displaying peacocks, and to the 

 "Greeting," are shown in Fig. 8. The 

 somewhat novel relation of these parts 

 to one another is required by the contour 

 of the ground and by the existence of the 

 playstead, its adjoining roadways, and 

 Glen Road. The bird-house and flying- 

 cage stand in a grove of oak trees, which 

 properly shelter them from the sun and 

 prevent their forming too conspicuous a 

 feature in the park. Mr. William D. 

 Austin, of Boston, is the architect of the 

 bird-house. A flying-cage for eagles and 

 vultures will soon be erected to com- 

 plete the bird group. Leading to the 

 elephant-house are to be parrots and 

 cockatoos, on individual stands, in re- 

 cesses along the pathway. 



An attractive herbaceous garden forms 

 a part of the construction work already 

 under way, and occupies a shallow dell 

 behind the future lion-house and sep- 

 arated from it by an extensive pergola. 

 This garden has been worked out in its 

 details by Mr. John A. Pettigrew, late 

 superintendent of the Park System. It 

 embodies a collection of herbaceous 

 plants flowering from early spring 

 through the summer until late autumn. 

 Lagoons are provided for the growth of 

 water-plants, and the whole scheme is 

 backed up by a planting of oak trees 

 averaging about twenty-five feet in 

 height, which gives seclusion from the 

 noise and traffic of Seaver Street. 



The installation of the zoo has made 

 necessary the laying of extensive water- 



