REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 57 



Holt house, commtmicating there with the Adams Mill road, would be a very desira- 

 ble improTement, as it would allow a much better approach than is now obtained by 

 the steep grade upon the Quarry road. Another carriage road should be constructed 

 from Connecticut avenue extended to the park, a distance of only about 180 feet, 

 but almost impassable during wet winter weather because of deep mud. The atten- 

 tion of the Commissioners of the District has been called to this matter, and I am 

 informed that Congress has already appropriated funds that can next year be applied 

 to remedying these defects. 



The only permanent house that it has been possible to build during the year is one 

 for the zebus, or East Indian cattle. This has been placed on a hillside opposite the 

 buffalo house, a location not wholly desirable, yet one that brings the animals fully 

 to the notice of the public. It is, properly speaking, a shelter barn, made of 

 concrete mixed with large pebbles, the roof of tile supported upon wooden beams. 

 An illustration showing this house is appended hereto. About it there have been 

 inclosed paddocks of sufficient size for the accommodation of the animals. 



Some effort has been made during the year to procure a satisfactory exhibit of the 

 varieties of tlie domesticated dog, both for the purpose of showing the amount of 

 variation that occurs in a single species, as well as to display typical specimens of 

 each breed for the information of those unacquainted with their characteristic 

 appearances. A similar exhibit is made at the Jardin d'Acclimatation, near Paris, 

 forming one of the principal features of the collection there. By corresponding 

 with breedets and dog fanciers a number of typical specimens were secured, and a 

 temporary wooden structure to be used as a keunel was erected not far from the 

 principal animal house. The exhibit has excited considerable public interest, but 

 the dogs being very noisy, so much so as to greatly disturb the residents on the 

 eastern side of the park, the principal kennel was finally removed to a more distant 

 and secluded situation on the western side. 



An unfortunate accident has greatly retarded the growth of this collection. 

 Lieutenant Peary, TJ. S. N., temporarily withdrew from the park, for purposes of 

 exhibition, two of the Eskimo dogs deposited by him. After these were returned, 

 one of them almost immediately developed a case of distemper which, in spite pf 

 all that could be done in the way of isolation and disinfection, ran entirely through 

 the kennels, affecting not only the dogs but also the wolves and foxes. Many ani- 

 mals, particularly the younger ones, died from it. The Eskimo dogs siiffered with 

 especial severity, the fine group possessed by the park last year being now reduced 

 to a single specimen. 



An extension of the paddocks for the wapiti or American elk was made impera- 

 tively necessary by the increase in growth of the young males received from the 

 Yellowstone National Park. Accordingly, there was selected for this purpose a large 

 tract, comprising some 9 acres, situated between Eock Creek and the fence on 

 the eastern side of the park, and still covered with primitive forest. This was 

 inclosed by means of the Page wire fence, and within it, at a short distance from 

 the fence, was built a small shelter for holding feed. Access to this is by an ele- 

 vated walk, a precaution rendered necessary by the ferocity of the males during the 

 fall and winter season, which makes it dangerous to enter the inclosure at that 

 time. The animals have made themselves entirely at home within this precinct, and 

 appear very much as they do in their native haunts. 



It has been necessary to replace the fence for the inclosure situated on one of the 

 little tributaries of Rock Creek within the park where the beavers have built quite 

 extensively and also brought forth young. The fence, already used for some years to 

 confine these animals, was of strong wire mesh, but proved insufficient to withstand 

 their powerful teeth. Severing it in several places, they went outside their inclo- 

 sure and felled small trees, which they endeavored to drag into their dams. On 

 several occasions, notwithstanding the repeated repair of the fence, they escaped at 

 night, returning to the inclosure during the day, and finally one of them established 

 himself permanently outside and has not as yet been recovered. It being necessary 



