96 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
for the animals. For the same reason horseflesh 
has been substituted for beef as food for the 
carnivorus animals, with the prospect of saving 
at least $6,000 on this item alone during' the 
next fiscal year. 
A portion of the nursery was fenced and 
breeding pens for quail and other game birds 
wede installed within the inclosure. It is hoped 
that most of the quail of various species needed 
for park purposes may be reared in this place 
and that important experiments in the breeding 
of game birds may at the same time be conducted 
without additional expense. 
I - 
THE PARK AS A BIRD SANCTUARY. 
The entire 169 acres of the National Zoo- 
logical Park constitutes a carefully preserved 
sanctuary for native wild birds. Every effort is 
being made to increase the bird population within 
this area and to give better protection to the 
resident species. During the past year over 100 
nesting boxes were provided for those species 
which commonly nest in holes, in trees,. These 
were made in the carpenter shop at odd times 
during the winter months from trunks and limbs 
of fallen trees with the bark in place. Attached 
to trees of the same kind or with bark of the 
same colour these nesting boxes are much less 
conspicuous and unsightly in the park trees than 
square boxes made from planed boards. Many 
of the boxes were occupied during the summer 
by bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, wrens, and 
flickers, and additional nests will be provided from 
year to year. During the colder months food is 
rpovired for the winter residents in various parts 
of the park. 
Of all the native wild birds within the park 
perhaps none attract so much attention as tse 
turkey vultures, or "buzzards," lhich congregate 
here in great numbers during the fall and winter 
months. Food, at practically no expense, is pro- 
vided for the vultures, and they become very 
tame and confiding. Many visitors from the 
Northern States, to whom the birds are a novel 
sight, greatly admire the graceful flight of these 
interesting- creatures. During the summer months 
the vultures scatter out over the surrounding 
country to nest, and only a lew appear within the 
boundaries of the park, but the security afforded 
for winter roosts brings them back in great num- 
bers with the approach of autumn. 
Bobwhite quail appear to be increasing in 
numbers within the park and are now fairly abun- 
dant. A considerable number of these birds must 
help . stock the surrounding country from year 
to year. 
Numerous bird classes from the schools and 
parties of Audubon Society members find the wild- 
er part of the park ideal grounds for observation 
of the birds. 
IMPORTANT NEEDS. 
Grading and filling. — The work of grading 
and filling, commenced last year, should be con- 
tinued. The further cutting away of the irregu- 
lar hill in the centre of the; western part of the 
park and the filling in of a nearby ravine will 
level nearly 70,000 square feet of ground which 
is now of little use and make available about 
25,000 square feet of ground at the ravine, be- 
sides straightening out the automobile road at 
this point. More inclosures are seriously needed 
for deer and similar animals, and this grading 
would provide for a number! of these yards on flat 
iground. 
Public-comfort building and restaurant. — 
The need of a suitable structure for 1 a rest house 
and refreshment roo mis strongly felt. This rest 
'house should provide toilet facilities for both 
women and men. It is probably true that the 
present restaurant occasions more unfavourable 
comment from visitors than any other one feature 
in the park. It is only a rude wooden platform 
with cover, but with open sides; the kitchen and 
other facilities are inadequate, and the entire 
structure is in a bad state of repair. 
Roads, bridle paths, and automobile parking. 
— The question of providing space for the park- 
ing of automobiles near the main buildings in 
the centre of the ark is becoming serious. The 
available space is entirely insufficient on nearly 
every Sunday and on all holidays. In order to 
provide suitable accommodations for the con- 
stantly increasing number of cars it will be neces- 
sary to make some change in the roads and lawns 
at the central point. ft will be necessary to 
makq 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 2i, 500 cars in a day) makes 
necessary each year greater exenditures 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 Havard Street gate to the cross- 
roads. Numerous complaints have been made as 
to the danger at these points, not only to child- 
ren, 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 
