50 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS.—C. William Beebe, Assistant Curator, in 
Charge. 
In this department, the most noteworthy event of the year was 
the satisfactory completion of the great Flying Cage, and its occu- 
pancy by about twenty-five species of water birds, numbering 
nearly 100 individuals. The evident happiness of the birds, and 
their freedom of action, combined with the abundance of tree and 
plant life, and of running water, rendered the Flying Cage one 
of the chief attractions of the Park. A series of pictorial identifi- 
cation labels, painted by Charles B. Hudson, adds very greatly to 
the scientific value of the collection. 
In the Department of Birds, important increases have been 
made in the collection of geese and ducks, which now contains 
186 specimens, representing twenty-eight species. As heretofore 
in winter, a representative series of these birds is now installed 
in the Bird House. Noteworthy additions to the bird collection 
were four fine cassowaries and two crown pigeons, imported direct 
from the Malay Archipelago, which have thriven satisfactorily. 
During the warm weather, the cassowaries were exhibited in the 
corral of the Caribou Range, directly south of the Bird House, 
where they attracted universal attention. Mr. A. Edward Pond 
presented to the Society a flock of five wild turkeys, which finely 
represent that important species, the largest and finest of all game 
birds. 
On November 7, 1900, the wild geese on the Aquatic Mam- 
mals’ Pond received a very noteworthy increase. A flock of nine 
wild geese migrating southward flew over the Park, observed 
the pond and the wild geese upon it, and immediately alighted 
and joined the captive birds. Finding that the Park offers abun- 
dant food, freedom and security, the wild flock elected to remain. 
With Page gates, a huge coop, with guiding wings, was set up on 
the eastern bank of the pond, and food employed as a bait. The 
first day’s efforts to entrap the wild birds proved unavailing. At 
last, however, the task of driving the wild birds into the trap 
was finally accomplished. Their primaries were clipped, and the 
nine Canada geese which voluntarily adopted the Zoological Park 
as their home were duly entered in the list of “gifts.” To all 
those who believe in omens, this strange accession will seem full 
of significance. 
