ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



361 



AUDUBON COURT, TAKEN FROM THE MA.MMAL HOUSE. 



The elliptical plot in the center is filled with a profusion of rhododendi'ons and mountain laurel, 

 forming one of the most pleasing features of plant life in the Park. 



leaves and on the twigs of the higher trees, 

 toward speciaHzation as creepers, flycatchers, 

 marsh-haunters, and, strangest of all, toward 

 a sandpiper life. 



Eight of the species in the collection are 

 among those which remain to nest near our 

 city, more or less commonly as the case may 

 be. Perhaps the best known of these in the 

 spring is the yellow warbler, or wild canary, 

 as it is called from its color. This is the bird 

 which is so often imposed on by parasitic cow- 

 birds, and which sometimes builds a second or 

 even a third story to its nest to avoid hatching 

 the parasitic egg. Of different pattern of 

 plumage, but almost as conspicuous, is the 

 American redstart — a warbler with the habits 

 and actions of a flycatcher, dashing through 

 the trees in rich orange and black dress, in 

 pursuit of flying insects. 



Near the stream borders or marshy places 

 we are almost sure to hear the JVifchify! 

 Witchity! Witchity! of the northern yellow- 



throat, with its wren-like actions and black 

 mask over its eyes. In the collection it is one 

 of the most active of all the warblers, running 

 about on the ground, or flying from branch 

 to branch. The blue-winged is represented by 

 a number of specimens, and the well-named 

 black-and-white creeping warblers are forever 

 going up and down the tree-trunks and 

 branches in their cage. 



.\ pair of worm-eating warblers, with hand- 

 somely streaked heads, will be a new sight for 

 many amateur bird-lovers, for these birds are 

 far from common, and their prompt accept- 

 ance of the conditions of confinement, and 

 their lameness, is very fortunate. The oven- 

 bird and Louisiana water-thrushes are the last 

 of the resident species, and stand for the most 

 aberrant type, one which has actually taken 

 to a life on the ground, a walking gait, a 

 teetering motion, and a fondness for wading 

 in the shallows of brooks. In fact, although 

 true warblers, these have become, to all in- 



