
CALIFORNIA SczA LIONS IN ONE OF THE BEAR DENS. 
It is impossible to give even a sketch 
of the collections in the reptile house, but 
I may at least mention the fact that the 
collection of rattlesnakes is exceptionally 
fine. There are about 20 specimens, repre- 
senting 6 species, and some of those from 
the South are enormous. 
The wolf and fox dens, of which there 
are 8, already pretty well filled, have been 
built on the same plan as the bear dens, 
but of course on a smaller scale. Near 
them are the otter pools—3 large en- 
closures on the edge of the aquatic mam- 
mals’ pond, each about 30 feet square, en- 
closed by a low iron fence with an over- 
hang which prevents the atters from 
climbing out. With 3 shade  ttees, 
muddy slides, gravel banks and 4 feet of 
clear water on a gravel bottom, what 
more could otters possibly ask? 
There are a lot of small mammals hid- 
den away in a closed yard, but a glass 
house 75 feet long is being rushed up to 
receive them on November 1, and make 
them comfortable until the permanent 
small mammals’ home can be erected. 
Away down in a deep wooded valley, 
not far from the bear dens, is the beaver 
pond. It is 400 feet long by about 200 
in average width, and half of it is a gen- 
uine pond, 3 feet deep. On several islets 
stand a dozen young maples and elms 
which the beavers are to cut as soon as 
they choose, but 29 larger and finer trees 
have been protected with sheet metal. 
Since the beaver pond has been ready, the 
society has not had sufficient time to pro- 
cure a supply of specimens, but in time 
347 
they will be forthcoming. The society 
wants about I5 specimens which have 
not been injured by traps. At present it 
seems likely they will be obtained in Can- 
ada, at a cost of about $25 each. 
Neither the lion house, monkey house, 
elephant house, nor large bird house have 
been erected as yet, or even begun. Be- 
fore any one of them can be built, thou- 
sands of cubic yards of earth and stone 
must be excavated in Baird Court, to 
level off a hill top,.and make places for the 
buildings. A contract for the work, in- 
cluding the excavation of Cope Lake, was 
let by the city on September 7 for $20,756, 
and next spring will see the work com- 
pleted. 
Work is progressing on the big antelope 
house and next year it will be completed. 
It is to contain the large hay-eating ani- 
mals which must be kept warm in winter. 
Birds’ valley has been so named be- 
cause of the bird collections located in its 
lower half. It begins at the elk range, 
and is bounded all along its Western side 
by the loveliest series of deer ranges on 
earth,—a series of grassy knolls and hol- 
lows, dotted over with old forest trees— 
chestnut, oak, hickory, hornbeam, dog- 
wood, elm, ash and maple,—with plenty of 
shade, but also plenty of sunlight. 
One excellent feature is the natural 
growth of brush in each range, which will 
go far to keep browsing animals in health. 
Each range is provided with a rustic-trim- 
med shelter house and a paved corral. 
The Society has been so rushed with con- 
struction work there has been no time to 
