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built in the centre for the cinnamon bear,and besides it a still larger cage,with several compartments,was constructed to accomodate the ^[[large]] birds of prey,---eagles,owls, and vultures. As gifts were received,temporary cages were hastily constructed for their accommodation,and every effort was made to make the best showing possible under the circumstances.

With the rapid increase in the size and vale of the collection came an increase in the amount of labor and attention it absolutely required. But for the [[strikethrough]] value [[/strikethrough]] ^[[valuable]] and indefatig^[[|]]able service which had been voluntarily entered upon,chiefly as a personal favor,by Mr. W.C. Weeden, in addition to his duties as Assistant Engineer,the department of living animals would have suffered very serious embarrassment,and the curator gladly acknowledges the value and gratifying nature of the services thus rendered ^[[from February to the close of the fiscal year.]]

^[[¶]] In the month of April, a fine pair of buffaloes,^[[-]] a bull four years of age and a three-year-old cow, then on a cattle ranch in Nebraska^[[-,]] were purchased by Mr. E. G. Blackford, of New York,and presented to the National Museum as the nucleus of a small herd. This very valuable gift was