62 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



suitable. Water is provided for each of these, and shade trees, suitably protected, 

 have been planted in them, so that it is believed that they will add greatly to the 

 comfort of the animals. Another very important improvement in this house has 

 been effected by repairing the roof of the extension and rearranging the heating 

 apparatus so as to adequately warm it. Although more habitable than before, it is 

 not yet by any means a satisfactory building for tender animals, and it is hoped that 

 this extension may at no distant day be rebuilt of stone, so as to correspond with the 

 remainder of the house. 



Perhaps the most urgent need of the park at the present time is the erection of 

 buildings in which animals requiring varied conditions of exposure can be properly 

 treated. At present there are practically but two conditions provided, those for 

 animals that live out of doors during the entire winter and those of animals that 

 require heat but are able to endure considerable changes of temperature. There is 

 no provision for animals that live in close tropical climates where the heat varies but 

 little. 



Birds and monkeys and other animals from the valleys of the Amazon and the 

 Orinoco find rapid changes very unfavorable. Besides this, it is impossible to give 

 proper attention to the natural habits aud idiosyncrasies of animals when they are 

 kept promiscuously within a single inclosure. Timid animals suffer greatly when put 

 in a house with large carnivorous beasts. The sight of such animals terrifies them 

 and the cries of creatures whom they instinctively recognize as their natural enemies 

 sometimes affects them so that they die from fright. A new building for monkeys 

 and birds and a new elephant house are greatly needed. 



The quarters for hardy animals are not in every respect what they should be. 

 The principal defect is in the bear yards and dens in the abandoned quarry, near the 

 main entrance to the park. These are too damp in winter and too hot in summer for 

 the health of the animals, and are really unsuitable for them. One of the cages has 

 become dangerous, because of the falling into it of large masses of rock. While 

 they are picturesque and striking, much better quarters could be devised for 

 the animals in other parts of the park. Upon some heavily wooded and cool 

 slope an inclosure of considerable size could be made, so that they could be con- 

 stantly upon the natural ground. Dry shelters could be provided either in hollow 

 trees or by adapting crevices of rocks. In such a yard a considerable number of 

 bears could be placed under conditions very similar to those of their native wilds. 

 If care were taken to select young animals that were properly tamed before being 

 placed in the inclosure, they would never have any fear of the public and would form 

 an attractive exhibit. 



The buffalo yards should be much larger than at present. As the animals destroy 

 every green thing within reach, their paddocks soon present a very bare and forlorn 

 appearance. This could lie partially avoided by having two sets of paddocks, one 

 of which could be occupied while the other was being allowed to recover from hard 

 usage. If the paddocks were larger, there would be less danger of the animals 

 injuring each other in their frequent conflicts. The largest bull of the herd was 

 killed during the year by the attack of one of the smaller ones, who determined to 

 contest his supremacy, and the small size of the inclosure prevented him from getting 

 away from his antagonist. 



The need of a proper public comfort house at the park is even more pressing each 

 year as the number of visitors increases. 



Some deaths of animals have occurred froiu accidental causes. A fine sea-lioness 

 was killed by the accidental explosion of a large quantity of dynamite near the pond 

 when she was swimming. This dynamite was to be used by the workmen employed 

 in excavating for the intercepting sewer that passes through the park. The shock 

 of the explosion was heard all over the city. The sea-lioness was not immediately 

 killed, but died within twenty-four hours of the occurrence. 



The beavers of the park are kept in two inclosures, and in both of these have built 

 themselves dams and shelters. It is found, however, that care must be taken to 



