218 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



value to us iu buildiug up the collection of living animals, and all col- 

 lectors and correspondents who may desire to forward specimens to us 

 are requested to ship by the United States Express Company (or the 

 Baltimore and Ohio) in preference to the Adams or the Southern Ex- 

 press Company. 



Up to date no researches worthy of mention have been made, the at- 

 tention of the curator having been fully occupied in duties of a practi- 

 cal nature. The growth of the young bears in the collection, which 

 now contains examples of three species, has been watched with interest 

 with a view to obtaining some exact data throwing light on the rela- 

 tions borne by the black bear, cinnamon, and grizzly to each other. 

 The position of the cinnamon bear being involved in considerable doubt, 

 it is very desirable to study the development of the three species under 

 favorable conditions. 



The most important result accomplished thus far by our collection of 

 living animals has been in emphasizing the great need of a national 

 zoological garden, established in the city of Washington. The many 

 hundreds of eager visitors who daily crowd our menagerie building to 

 the point of positive discomfort, and the numerous gifts which come to 

 us unsought, have led Senator J. B. Beck to introduce in the United 

 States Senate a bill "for the establishment of a zoological park in the 

 District of Columbia for the advancement of science, and the instruction 

 and recreation of the people," and appropriating therefor, as an initial 

 appropriation, the sum of $200,000. By direction of the Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, and also in pursuance of the desire of Sen- 

 ator Beck, the curator has exerted his utmost efforts to help bring 

 about the consummation of that much-desired and highly laudable end. 



A very noticeable portion of the time of the curator has been taken 

 up by certain investigations and the preparation of various reports that 

 have been called for by the Secretary and Assistant Secretary, and pre- 

 j)ared accordingly, for publication or otherwise. The following have 

 been submitted : 



A brief report on the results of the Smithsonian expedition for American Bison. 



A full report of the same, with a map. 



A report of investigations made iu regard to the protection of game in the Yellow- 

 stone National Park, illustrated by a specially prepared map. 



A plan, with estimates of cost, for a national zoological garden, to be located in 

 the District of Columbia. 



A paper on the extermination of the American Bison, with maps and illustrations 

 (not quite completed during the year). 



EXHIBIT AT THE CINCINNATI EXPOSITION. 



In order to call the attention of the public to the fact that several 

 important species of North American mammals have already been ex- 

 terminated by man, and many others are rapidly going the same way, 

 the curator prepared during the mouth of June a special exhibit to 



