92 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



areas being a section of the Service Road, the plaza at Boston 

 Road Entrance, the West Farms Block, the Pheasant Aviary 

 Walk, a portion of Baird Court, and the Service Yards. • 



At the Boat House, where the approach never had been put 

 in really good condition, and had become unsightly by the fact 

 that the railings bordering the roadways were battered and 

 broken by teams and automobiles, a long front of strong con- 

 crete coping was built. It is constructed on the same lines as 

 that surrounding the plot between Boston Road, 180th Street, 

 and the Bronx River. It is about 300 feet long, and contains two 

 pedestals upon which cast-iron lamp posts have been set. It 

 gives the Boat House a finished look, and thoroughly protects 

 the lawn and plantings from any further damage by vehicles. 

 The expenditures for this coping and for the walk repairs 

 amounted to $2,039.97. 



Tree Priming. — Owing to the urgent demand for work in 

 the pruning of dead limbs, and the cleaning and treatment of 

 cavities, it was necessary to increase our small force of tree 

 pruners by several additional men. Efforts in this line were 

 concentrated upon certain sections of the Park, where they were 

 most needed, and these sections, as for instance, Bird Valley, 

 the portions adjacent to the Jungle Walk and Beaver Valley, 

 were greatly improved. The cost of this to the Improvement 

 and Repair Fund was $650. 



Small Mammal House Repairs. — The condition of the inte- 

 rior cages on the west side of this building had become so bad 

 that it was necessary to remove and rebuild the entire series, 

 on improved plans. After the general requirements for these 

 cages had been obtained from the Mammal Department, Mr. De 

 Wellworth, in charge of the ironworkers, made detailed plans 

 for this work, under the direction of Mr. Merkel. 



The new plans did away with all woodwork, substituting 

 therefor floors of concrete and Tileine and roofs of glass and 

 steel. All cage partitions and ends were supplied with sanitary 

 bases, and were carefully waterproofed. All pockets or recesses 

 in which dirt might accumulate were eliminated. The iron 

 framework was simplified, and the design of the wirework so 

 changed that all surfaces are accessible for cleaning and paint- 

 ing. Reinforced concrete gutters were substituted for the un- 

 sightly and unsanitary lead-lined iron gutters. The many de- 

 mands of the great variety of animals of various sizes and habits 



