ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



4^ 



909 



THE SA.ME PLANTATION OF CONIFERS IN 1912 



To others wlio are considei-ing the planting of 

 a zoological park, our failures in this direction 

 may be as interesting as the successes, and espe- 

 cially two instances wliich come to the writer's 

 mind. The first one was the combination of 

 water birds and rhododendrons. It would seem 

 that these two, both loving water, would agree 

 perfectly, and for that reason the center island 

 of the Goose Aviary was planted with rhododen- 

 drons. In spite of great care and several trials 

 the plants have alwaj-s died, undoubtedly on 

 account of the great amount of lime voided by 

 the fish-eating birds. The second combination 

 that failed to work was that of squirrels and 

 crocuses, and similar bulbous plants. On the 

 lawn of Audubon Court we planted thousands of 

 crocus, scillas, snowdrops, etc., but there arc 

 now but very few left. The gray squirrels, of 

 which hundreds make their home in the Park, 

 followed the planters eloselj', and worked earlj^ 

 and late until every bulb had been dug up. 

 Tlie bulbs were not eaten at once, but unearthed, 

 tlie s])rout bitten out, and the remainder re- 

 )ilanted for future use. 



In spite of these and various other setbacks, 

 however, the planting' in the New York Zoologi- 

 cal Park, as a whole, is more than satisfactory. 

 It may be said that the Zoological Society 

 lias accomplished its aim, and carried out its 



original plan of making the Park an attractive 

 recreation ground, filled with the beauties of 

 nature, where the jaded mind of the busy city 

 dweller may find entertainment, peace or seri- 

 ous studv. as he is inclined. 



Young Pea Fowl. — Several of the pea fowl 

 have succeeded in rearing their young this sea- 

 son ; a matter of considerable import, as the 

 |)eacocks attract tlie attention of the visitors as 

 much as any of their wild contemporaries. 

 Coming upon an old hen and her young upon 

 one of the walks, I attempted to photograph 

 her. This preceding she completely frustrated 

 by circling around her young or flying directly 

 at me whenever I approached within a radius 

 which she evidently regarded as the danger 

 line. She was not at all anxious to fight, but 

 showed not the least timidity in making an 

 attack. The young ones in the meantime were 

 constantly running about in pursuit of insects, 

 and seemed to have the most sublime confidence 

 in Iheir jjarent's ability to ward off' any danger. 

 So far she seems to have been eminently suc- 

 cessful, for the young and mother were taking 

 food from a group of visitors but a few days 

 ago. E. R. S." 



Bulletin No. 6. — Wanted, one copy. 



