86 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1917. 



Roads, bridle paths, and automobile parking. — The question of 

 providing space for the parking of automobiles near the main build- 

 ings in the center of the park is becoming serious. The available 

 space is entirely insufficient on nearly every Sunday and on all holi- 

 days. In order to provide suitable accommodations for the con- 

 stantly increasing number of cars it will be necessary to make some 

 change in the roads and lawns at the central point. It will be neces- 

 sary to make extensive repairs to the roads during the coming year, 

 which will involve a considerable expenditure. The roads need 

 repair now, but under the stringent economy that is compelled during 

 1918 it will not be possible to make even the repairs already needed, 

 nor to provide proper upkeep of the roads. The greatly increased 

 auto traffic (sometimes 2.500 cars in a day) makes necessary each 

 year greater expenditures to keep the roads in order. Some change 

 should be made in the bridle paths in order that equestrians would 

 not be forced to use the bridge and the main road from the Harvard 

 Street gate to the crossroads. Numerous complaints have been made 

 as to the danger at these points, not only to children, but to the riders 

 themselves. The bridle path could, at some expense, be carried up 

 the west side of the creek from the crossroads, and a ford constructed 

 to connect with the bridle path on the east side of the creek. 



Outdoor dens for carnivorous mammals. — Recent experiments have 

 shown that many kinds of animals usually kept in heated houses are 

 much better off in outdoor yards, with warm, but unheated sleeping 

 quarters. Such accommodations should be provided for the Siberian 

 tiger, some of the lions, and other animals now occupying quarters in 

 crowded heated houses. The health of these animals would unques- 

 tionably be improved and their lives prolonged under such condi- 

 tions, and the space they now occupy in heated houses would become 

 available for other animals really needing such accommodations. 

 A series of outdoor, unheated cages and shelters should also be pro- 

 vided to replace the series of unsightly old wooden cages along the 

 hilltop north of the bird house. 



Additional ponds for waterfowl. — Additional lakes to be used for 

 waterfowl in summer and for skating in winter could be provided at 

 comparatively small expense both in the open flat near the Harvard 

 Street entrance and near the pelican pond across the road. Exhibits 

 of waterfowl are very popular and instructive, and the skating 

 privilege is much appreciated by the public in winter. 



Aviary building. — The park reports have for a number of years 

 urged the appropriation of funds for a new bird house. That such a 

 structure is badly needed is apparent. The building now used for 

 the birds was erected in the cheapest manner possible for temporary 

 use and is now in a bad state of repair. The collection is an im- 



