54 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ogy and of bird life in the field, he is specially qualified for the 

 duties of the position to which he was appointed. 



Through arrangements perfected by the Director during a 

 vacation trip to Florida in February, 1899, Mr. C. F. Latham 

 collected for the Society in the heronries on the headwaters of the 

 St. Johns River a considerable number of young specimens of 

 herons, egrets, ibises, brown pelicans, and other large water-birds. 

 He also purchased for the Society the entire collection of birds, 

 quadrupeds, and reptiles owned by the estate of the late Dr. John 

 Vedder, of St. Augustine, and in July arrived at the Zoological 

 Park with about two hundred living specimens. He also brought 

 an important collection of sub-tropical plants for display in the 

 conservatory attached to the Reptile House. Through this means, 

 and through purchases, the Society acquired a collection of water- 

 birds and birds of prey sufficient to completely fill all the cages 

 in and around the Aquatic Birds' House, and to make a very 

 respectable showing in the Ducks' Aviary. 



The large central cage in the Bird House has proven a success 

 beyond all expectations. A few days before the formal opening 

 of the Park it was occupied by a mixed collection of flamingoes, 

 pelicans, white swans, black swans, wild geese, ducks of various 

 species, scarlet ibis, glossy ibis, wood ibis, egrets, etc., to a total 

 number of about fifty birds. The floor of the cage is raised 

 eighteen inches above the floor of the building, and in its centre 

 is a large pool of running water, provided with a central fountain. 

 The success of this exhibit in a great measure depends upon the 

 harmony of its members, and a bird which proves to be of a quar- 

 relsome nature is not permitted in the group. The result of the 

 association of a number of species in this spacious enclosure is 

 quickly noticeable in the condition of the birds. They are remark- 

 ably healthy and active, and the mortality in this group has been 

 very low. Indeed, so beneficial are the conditions of this miniature 

 flying cage that when water-birds quartered elsewhere begin to 

 show signs of illness or lack of appetite they are immediately 

 transferred to the flying cage, where in nearly every instance they 

 have been benefited by the changed conditions. 



The difficulties encoimtered in the construction of the large 

 aquarium tank for diving birds have delayed its completion, and 

 it was not until January 20th that it was filled with water for the 

 first time. Even then, the filter which had been provided for its 



