EEPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 



83 



Class. 



Species. 



Individ- 

 uals. 





154 

 202 

 31 



606 



Birds 



786 





76 









Total 



387 



1,468 







VISITORS. 



The number of visitors to the park during the year, as deter- 

 mined by count and estimate, was 633,526, a daily average of 1,731. 

 This was nearly 100,000 more than during the fiscal year 1912. The 

 largest number in any one month was 120,908, in March, 1913, an 

 average per day of 3,900, 



During the year 142 classes, schools, etc., with a total of 5,579 

 pupils, visited the park, a monthly average of 465. These were 

 mainly from the District of Columbia and neighboring States, but 

 other States, from Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, 

 to" Tennessee and South Carolina, were represented, and " Corn 

 Growers " belonging to 18 States. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



The construction of a house for the storage and preparation of 

 food, which was begun toward the close of the previous year, was 

 completed early in this year and equipped with a large range for 

 cooking and baking, a small cold-storage room, dumb-waiter, etc. 

 The total cost of building and equipment was $3,615, of which 

 $3,050 was paid from this year's appropriation. The building is of 

 stone, 24 feet wide and 40 feet long, and has one story and a basement, 

 both with concrete floors. It is abundantly lighted and thoroughly 

 sanitary. It is located at the rear of the temporary bird house, so 

 that the building and the yard about it are screened from public view, 

 while still convenient of access. This improvement had been much 

 needed, as the only place previously available for the preparation of 

 food was the cellar of the lion house, where both light and ventila- 

 tion were far from satisfactory. 



An inclosure and shelter house were built between the lion house 

 and the small-mammal house to afford temporary quarters for the 

 small flock of ostriches recently acquired. The house is 16 feet 

 wide and 24 feet long, and the adjoining inclosure, which is nearly 

 circular, is about 100 feet in diameter. 



A new inclosure, with a pool, for wood ducks and nearly related 

 species, was built in the valley near the flying cage. 

 • The suspension footbridge across Eock Creek near the northern 

 entrance to the park having become unsafe, a new bridge of similar 

 construction was built there. 



