68 ' EEPORT OF THE SECRET AEY. 



• 



Addition to temporartj bird lionse. — It was found to be necessary to further enlarge 

 the temporary bird house in order to furnish winter quarters for birds from the 

 large flying cage. An extension 50 feet long and 85 feet wide was built at the north 

 end with a height of 20 feet. The end of this extension was made into a single cage, 

 20 by 35 feet, extending the full height of the building and provided with a pool, 

 trees, etc. A considerable part of the birds from the flying cage were kept here dur- 

 ing the winter. This addition made it possible to keep birds in a fairly comfortable 

 manner, but, with accessions which have come in during the current year, especially 

 from United States officers abroad, the collection has again quite outgrown the 

 accommodations. 



Repairs to ardelope house. — When this house was built it was necessary, on account 

 of insufficiency of funds, to use the cheapest materials. As a natural result some 

 parts of the structure have already given away from decay. During the year it 

 became necessary to put new floors in all of the large cages. The wooden floors 

 were removed and replaced by a macadam surface on a base of stone laid in the 

 "Telford" manner. Concrete walls were built to sustain the front of the cages aiid 

 the partitions. New double partitions were also constructed, with doors sliding into 

 them, and the outer wall was ceiled for greater warmth. 



Repairs to indosures. — Several of the inclosures for ruminant animals have required 

 repairs during the year. The elk paddock was in such bad condition that the wire 

 fencing had to be replaced for a distance of 100 rods, and at least an equal amount 

 additii >nal will have to be rebuilt very soon. A fence possessing at once the desirable 

 (lualities of lightness, strength, and durability is apparently not yet obtainable. 



■ Work on roadivays. — No new roatlways have been constructed during the year, but 

 the driveway connecting with Klingle road was rebuilt for a distance of 300 feet in 

 order to conform to the new grade established for that road. The ford on this drive- 

 way was also paved with concrete, as the current of Rock Creek frequently eroded 

 the natural bed at that point to such an extent as to render the crossing imsafe for 

 carriages. Since this improvement was made there has been no further trouble of 

 this kind. It also became necessary to remove the metaling from the roadway 

 between Quarry road entrance and the bridge over the creek, as a considerable fill 

 was required there to connect with the new entrance road constructed by the District 

 at that point. 



Neiv entrance road from Kenesaw avenue. — The appropriations for the District of 

 Columbia included the following item: " For Kenesaw avenue, entrance to Zoological 

 Park, grading (and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are authorized to 

 adjust the lines of the streets at this locality so as to afford an entrance to the 

 Zoological Park upon good and satisfactory grade, with authority to exchange with 

 the owners of the abutting property any land now within the lines of said streets 

 that may be necessary to accomplish said purpose: Provided, That no expense is 

 incurred thereby bj' the United States or the District of Columbia) , ten thousand 

 dollars." 



This entrance roadway has been graded throughout to a width of 50 feet. It has 

 not as yet been otherwise improved, but will probably be graveled soon. A fill was 

 required the entire length of the road, which extends into the park about 200 feet, 

 and the side slope encroaches on the park the whole length. The park is now bor- 

 dered on the east side from Quarry road to Klingle road by a bank of raw earth as 

 steep as it will stand and from 15 to 40 feet high. Measures will have to be taken 

 to i^rotect the meadow and woodland below from the wash, also to plant the slope 

 so as to screen it and cover it with a growth of vegetation which will hold the earth 

 and prevent erosion. 



Important accessions. — Dr. F. W. Goding, United States consul at Newcastle, New 

 South Wales, secured for the park during the year the most important collections 

 yet received from any one source, amounting to more than 140 specimens, among 



