26 REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



The road wbicli passes over the bridge should be continued onward up 

 the valley of the creek as far as the northern boundary of the park, 

 which is separated from the Eock Creek National Park by the Kliugle 

 road. This would give tlie public an easy access to the animal pad- 

 docks situated on the lower levels of the park, establish a thoroughfare 

 between the Zoological Park and the Eock Creek Park, and afford to 

 the residents of the country lying immediately to the west of the lower 

 end of Eock Creek Park a convenient outlet toward the city. 



But little has been done during the year to imj^rove the means of 

 access to the park. This is owing in great measure to the fact that the 

 plans for the extension of the streets of the city are not yet fully 

 matured, and no appropriations have yet been made for carrying them 

 into execution. In consequence of this, there is no properly improved 

 roadway connecting the recently completed road in the park with the 

 city system. 



The colony of beavers which has been installed along one of the 

 streams of the park and temporarily secluded, has done very well, and 

 the animals, while thus secured from annoyance or interference have 

 worked as in a state of nature. Tt is hoped that they may soon be so 

 far domesticated as to admit of tlieir carrying on their very interesting 

 pursuits under the eyes of the public, which is not yet possible. 



The accessions to the collection during the past year have been few. 

 The supply from the Yellowstone National Park, which was confidently 

 counted upon, has in some respects been disap])ointing. Owing to the 

 inroads of poachers and to inadequate winter pasturage, the bison in 

 that park have greatly decreased in numbers and are widely scattered 

 in almost inaccessible regions, so that it has been practically impossible 

 to secure any of them in the corral built for their protection and preser- 

 vation. Stringent penalties against poaching within that park have 

 been enacted by Congress, and it is hoped that by careful attention a 

 remnant of the herd of bison may yet be preserved. It is thought best 

 not to disturb them at present by any attempts looking toward herding 

 or capture. 



While the bison have been decreasing in tlie somewhat unfavorable 

 locality of the Yellowstone National Park, in other parts of the coun- 

 try some increase has occurred. Thus it is found that a portion of the 

 great northern herd has been isolated near Eonan, Montana, and in the 

 so-called panhandle of Texas a remnant of the southern lierd continues 

 to be maintained. It may be remarked that the vast regions of Texas 

 contain many animals that would be of advantage to our national col- 

 lection. Many of the Mexican species of deer range into this country, 

 and many distinctively Mexican animals, such as the peccary and the 

 jaguar, occur, while on the plains are found wild horses, supposed by 

 some to be indigenous, and therefore anterior to the Spanish occupa- 

 tion, and there are even a few camels running wild in some of the more 

 inaccessible portions of the country, relics of a herd imported for pur- 

 poses of transportation before the days of the Pacitic railroads. 



