NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 79 



adhesive pleurisy. A Malabar squirrel died from a rupture of 

 the left ventricle. 



A particularly fine eland died from anthrax. This animal, 

 apparently in fine physical condition, was found dead upon the 

 keeper's arrival in the morning. The suddenness of death in 

 cases of anthrax often suggests acute poisoning or accidental 

 death, but the post mortem and the microscopical examination 

 of the blood demonstrated the presence of anthrax bacteria. 



Broncho-pneumonia and lobar pneumonia are always the 

 cause of a considerable number of deaths each year. Pneumonia 

 is a common affection among the primates, even when not asso- 

 ciated with tuberculosis. 



We never have had so few cases of gastro-enteritis as dur- 

 ing the past year. Among the hoofed stock, where this disease 

 has been so troublesome in the past, few fatal cases have oc- 

 curred, and the errors in diet which contributed so largely to 

 this disease have been eliminated. 



During the year 1914 the total number of deaths was as 

 follows: Primates, 89; Carnivores, 79; Ungulates, 48; Marsu- 

 pials, 19 ; Rodents, 74 ; and Edentates, 6. Total, 315. 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS. 



C. William Beebe, Curator; Lee S. Crandall, Assistant Curator; 

 Samuel Stacey, Head Keeper. 



The bird collections as a whole have never been in better 

 health or condition than during the past year. Unfortunately, 

 however, as Germany is the chief bird mart of the world, the 

 suppression of the commerce of that country made itself felt at 

 once, and there has been some falling off in both species and 

 specimens. Up to the present, our cages and aviaries have been 

 so well filled that this diminution is not noticeable by visitors, 

 there being no cages empty because of this unexpected obstacle 

 to the maintenance of the full enrollment of the collection. Dur- 

 ing the last two or three weeks of the year, a few birds, mainly 

 canaries, were brought over by way of Holland, and it may be 

 that more interesting shipments will follow. 



During April and May, the Assistant Curator, accompanied 

 by Mr. T. Donald Carter, went on a collecting trip to Costa Rica. 

 More than 400 living specimens were secured, including mam- 

 mals, birds, reptiles and batrachians, fishes and insects. Full 



