The National Zoological Park 455 



By the kind cooperation of the Secretary of the Interior, 

 permission was given to the Smithsonian to make collections 

 of wild animals within the Yellowstone National Park. This 

 has become the only source of supply for certain species. It 

 was hoped that large numbers of buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, 

 moose, and beaver might be obtained there, and considerable 

 sums have been expended for the purpose of building corrals 

 and paddocks within that park for the capture and temporary 

 confinement of animals and their transportation to Washington. 

 This has proved an expensive undertaking. The isolation of 

 the Yellowstone Park enhances greatly the prices of labor and 

 material there, and its great distance from this city makes the 

 charges for transportation amount to as much or more than 

 the value of the animals. 



Some interesting results have, however, been attained. A 

 colony of beavers was, with considerable difficulty, collected 

 and placed in the National Zoological Park, where the animals 

 at once made themselves at home and proceeded to build a 

 lodge and several dams after the most approved fashion. It 

 was thought that it would be necessary to isolate them entirely 

 from the public, but it is found that they readily become tamed, 

 those which have been properly treated having no fear of man, 

 eating from the hand and carrying on their building operations 

 undisturbed by the presence of the public. 



With regard to results attained by the park, it may be said 

 that the popular interest in the collection is very great. On 

 Sundays and holidays the walks and buildings are crowded 

 with visitors, and any important accessions at once increase 

 the throng. On several occasions the attendance has ex- 

 ceeded ten thousand a day, and once, when a considerable 

 number of new animals had just arrived, it nearly reached 

 thirty thousand by actual count. Classes of children from 

 the public schools are constantly seen during fine weather, 



