THE OSPREY. 



An Illustrated Magazine of Popular Ornithology. 



Published [VIonthlv. 



Volume V. 



NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1900. 



Number 2. 



Original Articles. 



A TRIP TO THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 

 Bv Paul BarTSCH, Washing-ton, D. C. 



Bright and crisp dawned the morning' of the 

 tenth of December, the one chosen for a visit 

 to the Rock Creek region. 



Quickly and conveniently we were borne 

 thitlu r from the city by the Seventh Street Cars. 

 We did not stop to change to the Chevy Chase 

 line at the loop, which would have landed us at 

 the west gate, but after a look up and down the 

 deep narrow valley from the bridge, which spans 

 the stream at this point, we plunged down the 

 steep bank bounding Rock Creek on the south 

 side. 



Wild and romantic is the country which hems 

 our restless stream, and for t. e most part 

 covered by a mixed forest. Bold bald rock ex- 

 posures, covered only by the moss of aye-, peer 

 forth from among' the trees which caress the 

 bounding slope-. The region i- rough and wild 

 but with all its ruggedness it creates no impedi- 

 ment to the traveller, for numerous fool paths 

 and beautiful drive-ways, make every portion 

 of the entire reserve accessible to man. 



It is a beautiful example of making" what 

 most people would have considered an impene- 

 trable waste, a park tit for the gods. 



The babbling stream, too. has been civilized 

 and in many places spanned by low arched 

 bridges and here and there a series of stepping 

 stones mark places where the nimble-of-foot 

 may change to the opposite bank. Many of the 

 hill sides are covered by a tangle of laurel, form- 

 ing welcome retreats and nesting sites to many 

 of our birds and an almost impassible barrier to 

 man, but even these thickets have been pierced 

 so that to-day we may enjoy a pleasant walk 

 among' scenes which once required the utmost 

 patience and perseverance. 



What effect has all this improving had upon 

 our birds, the birds which visit this reserve an- 

 nually, you will ask. A very beneficial one I 

 should say. The improving has little effected 

 the actual conditions; it has simply tended to 

 make the region an accessible one. Here seclu- 

 sive birds like the Worm-eating Warbler and 



Black and White Creeper rear their young an- 

 nually and inform us of their presence by their 

 characteristic querulous tones and wiry notes. 



To-day these birds have soug'ht their south- 

 ern quarters, but the place is not deserted, for 

 scarcely have we left the car line far enough 

 hi hind us. to lose the fainter sounds and rattle 

 of commerce, when the pleasing' tones of our 

 little friends in slaty gray and black, the Tufted 

 Tit, come rollicking' over the hills. 



Jolly rovers they are at this season and most 

 interesting denizens of the park. They are now 

 usually associated with their near kin the Caro- 

 lina Chickadee, a bird equally pert, pleasing and 

 vociferous. The Zoological Park proper fur- 

 nishes a pleasant winter resort to many of our 

 feathered friends, since food is always plenty. 

 There is always a crumb left over from the 

 supply furnished to the Confined inhabitants and 

 the feeding', and the protection afforded by law 

 has brought about a close companionship between 

 bird and man. The ever present fear has to a 

 great extent been abandoned by them, within 

 the confines of the "Zoo" and not unfrequentlv 

 you will find the peanut, pitched to an animal, 

 seized by a Tufted Tit and borne to a branch to 

 mi lergo the opening process. I feel positive 

 that a Utile attention and patience would soon 

 induce the bird to take food directly from one's 

 hand. 



While we were admiring the alar expanse of 

 the California Condor, who held his shivering 

 pinions wide stretched to the rays of the morning 

 sun, I counted no less than ten species of our 

 native birds, skipping about among the adjacent 

 trees. The two already mentioned, several 

 Brown Creepers, jerking their spiral course up 

 the trunks of trees. I say the trunks, for it is the 

 Creeper's habit las a rule) to flit to the base of 

 another tree, when he has reached the portion 

 occupied by the leafy canopy, to begin his 

 upward climb anew. I also noted that at the 

 "Zoo" they did not despise moving upon the 

 ground and seeking for eatables in this unusual 



