The Birds of Richmond Park.



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in these pages—Captain Beebe has outlined the daily life of this extra¬

ordinary fowl and its quaint, almost four-footed nestling ; to-day we

note the valuable treatise on its anatomy by Dr. Shufeldt, published in

vol. xxxi of the Journal of Morphology.


Several young and sub-adult Hoatzins were received by

Dr. Shufeldt in the winter of 1914-15 ; their external appearance and

also the structure of the skeleton is shown in four most interesting

plates appended to the memoir. All aviculturists, we suppose, are

pre-eminently interested in nestlings ; in these clear photographs we

have the secrets of the South American jungle before our very eyes.

The photographs, very beautiful and full of detail, were taken by

Dr. Shufeldt himself.


A sub-adult specimen studied was still in pin-feather when

obtained ; the skin was quite thick and tough, as was also the case,

though to a less extent, in the chick. Although the bird was nearly able

to fly, the skeleton was still almost entirely composed of gristle ; even

the all-important breast-bone was chiefly cartilaginous, though quite

thick and substantial. In view of the uncanny climbing powers of the

almost quadrupedal nestling, it is interesting to note the enormous feet,

with their strong, powerful digits, and curved claws. All the specimens

figured had been carefully preserved in alcohol, with excellent results,

for no shrinking or distortion is seen in the photographs, even the stout

scaly covering of the feet being perfectly rendered.


G. R.



THE BIRDS OF RICHMOND PARK.


By Philip Gosse.


One Sunday afternoon in May this year I went down to Richmond

Park to spend a few hours away from all the crowd and rush of London,

and finding a comfortable looking oak-tree to lean against near the

Penn Ponds, waited to see what birds were about.


In the branches of the tree above my head was a Tree Pipit,

singing that joyous careless song of his, which has so much in it that



