DEPARTMENT OF LIVING ANIMALS. 217 



ROUTINE WORK. 



The daily care which the animals in the collection demanded in 

 proper feeding and thorough cleaning has required the undivided atten- 

 tion of the two keepers mentioned above, with daily assistance from a 

 laborer. Quite a number of the birds and mammals are young, and all 

 such require to be fed from three to five times daily, on food specially 

 adapted to their respective wants. With the exception of the reptiles, 

 each species in the entire collection has been labeled, and although in 

 the beginning the curator made a determined effort to exhibit with each 

 mammalian species a map showing its geographical distribution, the 

 rapid increase in the size and importance of the collection overwhelmed 

 him with more imperative duties, and it was found impossible to carry 

 out that plan at present. During the last four months of the fiscal 

 year only four specimens were purchased, and it required diligent exer- 

 tions to provide proper accommodations for the gifts that came in from 

 day to day. Notwithstanding the disadvantages the department labors 

 under by reason of the temporary nature of nearly all of its appoint- 

 ments, the crowded condition of the Duilding and the small size of most 

 of the cages, the healthy condition of the animals and the general 

 cleanliness of the establishment attest the energy and vigilance of the 

 keepers. 



As a measure of economy in the matter of feed, several tons of fine 

 clover hay have been saved from the haying operations conducted on 

 the Smithsonian Grounds by the Department of Public Buildings and 

 Grounds, and stacked near the carp pounds for future use in feeding 

 our ruminants. The saving thus effected will not fall far short of $150. 

 During the entire grass-cutting season the buffaloes and deer have been 

 fed chiefly on fresli grass from the grounds. 



TRANSPORTATION. 



Inasmuch as the ordinary rules of the express companies require pay- 

 ment for certain classes of live animals at from two to four times the 

 amount of ordinary rates, Mr. S. C. Brown, registrar of the I^ational 

 Museum, undertook to secure certain concessions from various express 

 companies, north and south. After considerable correspondence the 

 Adams Express Company refused to make any concession whatever, 

 thereby reserving its right to charge from one to four rates on live ani- 

 mals, as it sees fit, which in many cases is a prohibitive tariif. The 

 United States Express Company (now including also the Baltimore and 

 Ohio Company) was more generous, and in view of the laudable nature 

 of the object in view, and the fact that the collections will always be 

 free to the public, the general manager of that comj>any has authorized 

 all its agents to ship live animals of all kinds to this Institution at one 

 ordinary merchandise rate. This generous concession will be of great 



