64 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



consequence, most gratifying success has been attained in carry- 

 ing new arrivals through their first moult — the most critical 

 period in the life of a captive bird. Both in the care of difficult 

 birds and in the preparation of foods Keeper Stacey has dis- 

 played most commendable intelligence and industry. 



The development of a hospital in one of the upper rooms of the 

 Bird House has proved to be of great utility in caring for sick 

 or injured individuals. 



Since January i, 1905, the collection of birds has increased 

 over 150 per cent in individuals and over 100 per cent in species. 

 Of the 36 Orders of the living birds of the world, 26 are repre- 

 sented, almost all of the remaining 10 being small, isolated groups, 

 such as the sand-grouse, hemipods, hoatzin, etc. 



It is the aim of the Curator to make the collection as fully 

 representative as possible of the birds of North and South Amer- 

 ica; and this has been so far successful that 2.2 out of the 26 

 Orders, and 203 out of the 355 species, here shown are found in 

 the New World. Only 2 Orders of North American birds are 

 unrepresented. 



A very successful innovation has been the grouping in one cage, 

 or in several adjoining cages, of the birds of some particular re- 

 gion or country. Thus, the common birds of Europe occupy a 

 large cage by themselves ; while the weavers of Africa, the tou- 

 cans, hornbills, etc., are similarly segregated. 



The birds of the Bahamas and of Cuba are represented by 27 

 of the species peculiar to those islands. The rearing of two 

 broods of Canada Geese, of eight each, and the hatching of a 

 young White Ibis is worthy of note. By means of much experi- 

 menting in the line of new food, a diet perfectly adapted for 

 flamingoes has been formulated. As a result, several very young 

 birds have been successfully brought to maturity. 



Among many interesting and unusual birds may be mentioned 

 the black Bennet Cassowary, Elegant Tinamou, Black Cock and 

 Capercaille, Bleeding Heart and Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Ivory 

 Gull, Avocet, five species of Gallinules, seven species of Swans, 

 five species of Tree-ducks, Eider Duck, Solitaires, Mocking 

 Thrushes, Cuckoos, Nuthatches, Swallows. Warblers, and every 

 species, save one, of the Thrush Family inhabiting the eastern 

 part of our country. 



Special attention is called to the excellent work that is being 

 done by the Curator in the matter of descriptive labelling, and 

 also in providing picture labels for purposes of identification. 

 Despite the great number of small birds in the new Bird House, 



