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walls. The new building will be of somewhat greater area 
and it is proposed to complete it during the coming year. 
A large piece of ground lying between the Carnivora 
House and the eastern main walk has been enclosed by an 
iron fence, to contain the elk, and a similar pen has been 
made for common camels on the opposite side of the walk 
to the west. These enclosures are provided with substantial 
shelters of red cedar, which can be closed in on three sides 
for winter use, and with streams of water discharging into 
stone pools built into the ground. A similar construction is 
projected on the western main walk, opposite the Carnivora 
House, for Bactrian camels. The removal of the elk and 
camels from the series of pens on the western side of the 
Gardens, south of the wolf pens, has made it possible to re- 
move the division fences and give the American buffalo 
the whole space, measuring some four hundred and twenty 
feet in length with a depth of from one hundred and ten 
to one hundred and eighty feet. 
While the conditions afforded by an enclosure of this 
size fall far short of those which are to be desired, but 
which could be had only in an area large enough to admit 
of the preservation of such natural features as trees, shrub- 
bery, and grass, they are probably as good as can be supplied 
in a zoological garden of average size, and, on the whole, 
the condition of the herd of buffalo owned by the Society 
is most gratifying. 
Two additional pairs of iron cages for birds of prey were 
built at the southern end of the grounds, where it is hoped 
that the whole series of these birds may be gradually con- 
centrated. 
The responsible lessee of the restaurant died during the 
summer. The Board took advantage of this occasion to 
make a complete change in the management of that por- 
tion of the service. A new lease, taking effect 1st January, 
1898, has been concluded with Charles W. Whitehurst, 
under provisions which are directed towards securing much 
better facilities for refreshment than have heretofore been 
available to visitors. 
