ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



889 



(Buti'o borcaVis caliinm) . tlit- Red-shouldered 

 Hawk {Bitteo linealus liiicatus) . and the Euro- 

 pean Buzzard {Biitco biifeo). These birds are 

 similar in habits, feeding mostly upon mice and 

 frogs, and are of great value to the farmer. 



One of the finest of the eagles is the Aus- 

 tralian Wedge-tail {Lroaetus audajL'), somewhat 

 similar to the Golden in general appearance, 

 but much more tawny in body color and lacking 

 the feathered tarsi. Xow that the importation 

 of live birds from Australia is no longer legal, 

 it will doubtless be difficult to secure sjjecimens 

 of this eagle. 



The American and Ferruginous Rough-leg 

 Hawks (Aichihtiteo lagopus saiicti-johannis and 

 A. feiriigitieous) are now represented in the 

 collection by several specimens each. Both 

 possess feathered tarsi, the former presenting 

 several plumage phases. Tliese birds hunt 

 mostly in the twilight, beating their way across 

 the fields at a short distance above the ground. 

 The owl-like appearance of the bill and gape, 

 particularly in the Ferruginous, are very strik- 

 ing, and the resemblance is increased b^- the fact 

 that it bolts mice and sjiarrows practically whole, 

 as do the owls, and does not tear them to bits 

 as is tlie habit of most hawks. 



The Sea Eagles are represented by two species 

 — the White Breasted (Haliaaetus leucogaster) 

 and the \'^ulturine {Gi/pohiero.r aiigoleiisis). The 

 former is closely related to the bald eagle and 

 has much the same feeding habits. Both of 

 these birds are found near the Eastern oceans, 

 where the highly poisonous sea-snakes form a 

 great portion of their food. 



One of the fiercest and most predatory of 

 American Accipiiriformcs is the Duck Hawk 

 (Falco peregrhius nnatum). so swift on the wing 

 that it is able to overtake the fastest flying 

 ducks. The European subspecies (Falco pere- 

 grinu.i peregrinus) is the Peregrine Falcon, the 

 favorite hawk of the days of falconry, and as 

 the two forms are separated only with great 

 difficulty, if at all. it is safe to attribute to our 

 bird all of the qualities of strength and courage 

 wiiich gave the "Noble Peregrine" its name. 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK NOTES 

 Bird Dep.\rtment 

 Gulls that Perch. — The readiness with which 

 birds adapt themselves to the changed conditions 

 of captivity is well demonstrated by some of 

 tlie smaller gulls in the Flying Cage. While 

 it is true that these birds may sometimes perch 

 when flying at liberty, it is far from a common 

 occurrence. The laughing gulls, brown-headed 

 gulls and a short-billed gull have developed a 



fondness for alighting on the slender cross-bars 

 which join the sides of the cage close to the top. 

 Here the birds spend most of their time, calling 

 as vociferously as though on their native sands. 



Prolific Water-foxvl. — Breeding operations 

 among the birds are now under full sway. Two 

 pairs of herring gulls are incubating their eggs 

 in one of the enclosures of the Goose Paddock. 

 A number of young Canada geese are following 

 their ])arents from one pond to another, while 

 tiny mallard ducklings fairly swarm on the 

 various bodies of water. The white call-ducks 

 have three sturdy youngsters a month old which. 

 as the parents are full winged, are apt to be 

 seen almost anywhere within the Park limits. 

 The wood ducks have been remarkably prolific. 

 No less than eighty-eight eggs of this species, 

 with probably a few of those of the Mandarin 

 intermixed, have been removed from the nest 

 bo.xes and entrusted to the solicitous care of 

 sitting hens. About twenty ducklings have 

 already been hatched, and with a fair share of 

 good fortune, our flock of this lovely species 

 should be greatly augmented by fall. 



Xcsting Olds and J'ultures. — The eggs of the 

 giant eagle owls and the griffon vultures have, 

 as usual, come to naught. Those of the owls 

 met with a mishap when just at the point of 

 hatching, and were found broken at the bottom 

 of the cage. None of the many eggs of the 

 griffon vultures have ever proved fertile, 

 but it is to be hoped that in the liberal confines 

 of the new aviary better results will be ob- 

 tained. 



Cereopsis Geese. — The most important event 

 of .all is the successful hatching of five sturdy 

 goslings by the cereopsis geese. The little birds 

 are much stronger than those of two years ago 

 and are growing rapidly. A temporary fence of 

 fine-mesh wire has been placed across the Crane 

 Paddock, giving the geese a large space at the 

 southern end well supplied with grass. As this 

 is only the second time that birds of this species 

 have been hatched in tiiis country, as far as 

 known, much interest attaches to the occurrence. 



The Old Cages. — Xow that the eagles and 

 vultures have been removed to more commodious 

 quarters, their former abodes are available for 

 their smaller relatives and the owls. The daintv 

 sparrow hawks, of which we possess four species, 

 are now ensconced in two large out-door cages 

 on the western side of the Aquatic Bird House, 

 where they can enjoy a degree of libertv never 

 before within our power to give them. The 

 otiier cages of this series are occupied by our 

 extensive collection of owls. L. S. C. 



