EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 67 



Llama House. — Early in 1903 the Zoological Society received 

 from Air. Robert S. Brewster, as a gift, a complete collection of 

 the cameloid animals of South America, embracing the llama, 

 guanaco, vicuna and alpaca. To provide suitable quarters 

 for this handsome gift, the Society erected, at the expense of the 

 Ground Improvement Fund, a building now known as the Llama 

 House, situated near the Southwest Entrance to the Park. This 

 building is 30x35 feet, and is one story in height. It contains 

 four spacious shelter rooms, a feed-room, and connects directly 

 with four outside yards of good dimensions. This structure was 

 built of wood, at a cost of $2,000.00, and is in every way so 

 substantial that it will keep in repair for a long period. 



Outdoor Cages of Lion House. — As early in the year as weather 

 would permit, work was begun on the construction of the rustic 

 rock-work in the interiors of the three largest outside cages form- 

 ing a part of the Lion House. A great amount of trouble was ex- 

 perienced in collecting an adequate supply of weathered rock for 

 the artistic structures required, the idea being in each case to re- 

 produce what appears to be the end of a rocky ridge. This work 

 was prosecuted vigorously throughout the summer, and com- 

 pleted in October ; but the wall decorations designed for each rear 

 wall of the three cages mentioned are yet to be executed. 



Riverside Walk. — The walk extending along the eastern side of 

 Bronx Lake, from West Farms to Bronxdale, — a total distance 

 of 4,195 feet, — has been completed in a satisfactory manner, and 

 adequately opens up to visitors the entire park area east of the 

 Bronx. 



Improvement of Baird Court. — Late in the year the improve- 

 ment of the southern half of Baird Court was undertaken by the 

 construction of a complete network of drains and catch-basins 

 for the adequate drainage of the surface. The western retaining 

 wall of Baird Court is now being raised to the full height of the 

 finished grade, and at an early date this wall will receive its 

 facing and coping of cut stone, surmounted by a balustrade, and 

 permanent steps will be erected leading from Bird Valley .to the 

 center of Baird Court. A large quantity of stone has been 

 accumulated on Baird Court for the foundation of the telford 

 macadam pavement that will be laid early in the spring. Ex- 

 periments with tar as a surface-binder were undertaken, and 

 it is hoped that a combination can be found which will render 

 it possible to provide a smooth, hard surface for the telford 

 macadam. 



