skvI':nth annual report. 41 



and represents tlic taste of Messrs. Heins & La l*"ar<;e. The C(jm- 

 mittce takes this opportunity of tlianking Mrs. Sturgis for this 

 very welcome memorial gift. 



The chief changes of the year in this wilder portion of the Park 

 are in the further provision for our collection of bears, and for 

 our rapidly growing collection of wild sheep and goats. The Bear 

 Dens have been extended to the south by the addition of four new 

 dens, admirably designed by Mr. Beerbower, the rock work exe- 

 cuted under the direction of Mr. Merkel. These dens will enable 

 us to increase the number of bears on exhibition, and provide for 

 a more scientific grouping and arrangement than has heretofore 

 been possible. The completion of the Mountain Sheep Hill is a 

 notably successful installation in this portion of the Park. It is 

 after the original design of Mr. Hornaday, about which the Com- 

 mittee felt some hesitation, owing to the large amount of artificial 

 rock-work involved. The idea has been carried out under the 

 direction of Mr. Merkel and has proved to be not only practical 

 but beautiful ; the rocky sky-line afforded by these installations is 

 admirably natural and beautiful. We have already installed a 

 number of extremely interesting specimens of wild sheep and 

 goats, chiefly from the Himalayan region. 



The service of the Rocking Stone Restaurant has been greatly 

 improved during the year by throwing open the south pavilion 

 to the public, which is now used as an open air restaurant. 



According to our original intention, the eastern end of the 

 Reptile House has been fitted up for the reception of tortoises, 

 and will be used for this purpose during the summer of 1903. 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK EAST OF THE BOSTON ROAD 



One of the special grounds upon which the application of the 

 new bond issue was based was the desire of the Society to protect 

 and develop that beautiful portion of the Park lying east of the 

 Bronx River, not heretofore enclosed. The first feature of the 

 improvement was the construction of a walk along the east side 

 of the Bronx Lake, it being the intention of the Society to utilize 

 the whole area at present simply as a pleasure resort. Adequate 

 protection for this beautiful forest is afforded by a new line of 

 fencing completely enclosing our eastern boundary. 



The condition of the Bronx River requires immediate attention 

 on the part of the City authorities, and the expenditure of a very 

 considerable sum of money if it is to be preserved and made 

 healthful. The condition of the Serpentine River in London in 

 Hyde Park shows that it is practicable to preserve an ancient 



