76 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



tanks showing the larvae of various species of dragon flies, or 

 mosquito hawks. The larvae of these insects fed daily upon the 

 living mosquito larvae. At the close of the year, with the col- 

 lection wintering in the Reptile House, the most interesting fea- 

 ture is a large female bird-killing spider, from South America, 

 with her egg-cocoon, which she guards most carefully." 



The insect collection is supplied with interesting descriptive 

 labels. During the latter part of the coming spring it will be 

 removed from the Reptile House, where, during the winter, the 

 number of its cages has been much reduced, and replaced in the 

 quarters occupied during the summer of 1910. 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS 



Lee S. Crandall, Acting Curator; Samuel Stacey, Head Keeper. 



During the past year, in the absence of the Curator, the ef- 

 forts of this department have been exerted toward maintaining 

 the collection at the high point of excellence previously attained, 

 and also in striving to advance its standing both in species and in 

 specimens. In all these lines of activity, excellent results have 

 been achieved, and the Acting Curator is entitled to great credit 

 therefor. 



The growth of the bird collections during the year is rep- 

 resented by 107 new species and 133 specimens that have been 

 added. With the exception of eight portable cages that were 

 placed in the public space at the west side of the Ostrich House, 

 no new accommodations for birds were provided, the gain in 

 species having been effected chiefly by decreasing the number of 

 specimens of several species and introducing others. 



No epidemics have occurred, and the death rate has re- 

 mained at its customary low point. 



A series of wild geese, numbering nineteen species, was ar- 

 ranged in systematic order in the Duck Aviary, and another 

 game-bird series, consisting of eleven species of American quail, 

 was exhibited in the Glass Court of the Large Bird-House, where 

 it has attracted much attention from sportsmen, as well as the 

 general public. 



Among the most conspicuous accessions are three greater 

 birds of paradise, (Paradisea apoda) , and a pair of secretary 

 birds, (Serpentarhts serpentarius) . Both species were ac- 

 quired by purchase, and from every point of view are of great 

 interest. The birds of paradise are not at present in possession 

 of the brilliant yellow plumes that are their chief feature of 

 beauty, but these will be developed in due season. 



Well worthy of note among the birds new to the collection, 



