TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT " 83 



tralia and elsewhere did not materially increase our death rate 

 during the past year. All of these shipments came in such 

 excellent condition that the animals soon adjusted themselves 

 to their new environment and quickly became acclimated. 



Because of the threatened danger of introducing serious in- 

 fectious diseases into this country through our importation of 

 animals from Africa, the Bureau of Animal Industry of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture was reluctant to lift 

 the embargo, and upon the shipment's arrival in this country 

 their representatives supervised the debarkation of these animals 

 with great care. We were, however, able to meet all the require- 

 ments to their entire satisfaction. It is gratifying to report 

 that none of these animals have died since their arrival in the 

 Park. 



The rare mountain zebra acquired in this African shipment 

 arrived not a minute too soon, because when released from its 

 crate it was seen to be in an exhausted state bordering on col- 

 lapse; but after a few days in a sunny yard, and with mild 

 weather, it soon gained in strength and vigor and is now in good 

 condition. 



About 50% of the deaths during the past year were among 

 the small mammals, and the greater number of these were 

 among the less important rodents, which are necessarily more 

 closely confined in order to be satisfactorily exhibited. The 

 small mammal collection is one of the most difficult to maintain 

 owing to the close confinement, and the constant diflficulty ex- 

 perienced in obtaining the great variety of food the various 

 species are accustomed to find under normal conditions of free- 

 dom. 



On two occasions distemper appeared among the smaller 

 carnivores in the Small-Mammal House. The disease was intro- 

 duced through recently acquired animals, and a number died or 

 were destroyed in order to stamp out the infection. Distemper 

 also appeared in a wolf which was isolated and recovered after 

 treatment with distemper serum. 



For the first time in several years skin diseases, both sar- 

 coptic mange and ring-worm, were found in new arrivals, but in 

 these cases the animals were promptly isolated and successfully 

 treated. 



