REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 21 



Relations were established also with the newly formed Governments 

 of Esthonia, Far Eastern Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukrainia. 

 Conditions in Russia and Turkey are not yet sufficiently settled to 

 warrant the exchange of publications previously carried on between 

 the United States and these countries. 



The number of boxes shipped abroad during the year was larger 

 than ever before, due largely to the opening of exchange relations 

 with Yugoslovia and certain of the independent Russian States, 

 the material for these countries having accumulated here for sev- 

 eral years. 



The regular schedule of shipments to foreign countries was re- 

 sumed during the year. To Great Britain and Germany, shipments 

 are made weekl}^; to France and Italy, semimonthly; and to other 

 countries, monthly. 



NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 



The past j^ear has been one of the most successful since the estab- 

 lishment of the park. The number of visitors exceeded 2,000,000; 

 the collection of animals is larger and more important than ever 

 before ; a number of minor improvements have been completed and 

 progress made on certain larger projects; and the reservation itself 

 has been maintained in excellent condition. That the popularity 

 of the park as a source of recreation and instruction continues 

 unabated is shown by the fact that for the third consecutive year 

 the attendance has exceeded 2,000,000, and its increasing value as 

 a supplement to school-room instruction in natural history is demon- 

 strated by the 205 schools and classes visiting the park during the 

 year, with a total of 13,585 individuals. 



The total number of animals on exhibition at the close of the year 

 was 1,681, representing 482 species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. 

 This is not only a larger number of individual animals than ever 

 shown before, but also a larger number of different species. Among 

 the 656 accessions received during the year, 217 were gifts. Among 

 these may be mentioned two important collections from South 

 America, one made by Dr. William M. Mann on the Mulford Bio- 

 logical Explorations of the Amazon Basin and presented by the 

 H. K. Mulford Co. of Philadelphia, the other made by Mr. AV. J. 

 La Varre, jr., and presented by him. These two collections con- 

 tain several species of South American monkeys and birds never 

 before shown at the park. One hundred and fifty mammals, birds, 

 and reptiles were born in the park during the 3'ear. 



Under the heading of improvements the report of the superin- 

 tendent mentions a large project of grading, leveling, and filling in 

 the west centralpart of the park, which was practically completed 



