29 
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A Little Auk in the Botanic Garden.—During the last week in 
November the local newspapers contained items concerning a 
considerable number of birds known as the Little Auk, Dovekie, 
or Sea Dove (Alle alle), which were blown from northern 
latitudes down to the vicinity of New York City and Long Island 
by the severe storm which took place at that time. One of these 
birds was found alive in the Botanic Garden, but it 1s impossible 
for them to remain alive for more then a very few days in this 
latitude and environment. Our specimen was captured alive but 
soon died. It was mounted by one of our own men, who is an 
amateur taxidermist. 
It is interesting in this connection to note that during the fall a 
beautiful large parrot led a free existence in the open in the 
3otanic Garden until he was apparently overcome by excessive 
cold weather. Efforts to capture him were unavailing. It may 
also be noted that during the past summer a parrakeet made his 
headquarters in the Botanic Garden. It is thought that the parrot 
and parrakect were set free in the Garden by some one who became 
afraid of contracting the parrot fever, psittacosis. 
International Seed l:achange 
The demands for seeds from other botanic gardens was heavier 
in 1932 than ever before. More than 120 gardens and other 
institutions in more than 20 foreign countries sent requests. The 
total number of seed packets supplied was 4555, as against 2397 
in 1931. In fact, the number of packets requested was about 
500 in excess of our ability to respond. The seeds were collected 
from plants growing in the Botanic Garden, from wild plants of 
this region, and from Oregon, Tennessee, Maine, and other locali- 
ties, through the cooperation of collectors in those regions. Out 
of 808 packets requested by members of the Garden we were able 
to supply 688. Members’ requests were about 16 per cent. of 
the total number of requests, and the packages supplied to members 
about 15 per cent. of the total supplied. 
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Co NSERVATORIES 
The Conservatory attendance for the year was 123,036, as 
against 84,429 in 1931 and 40,093 in 1930. The largest monthly 
