78 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



DEPARTMENT OF BIRDS. 



C. William Beebe, Curator; 

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



For several years our bird collection has contained a larger 

 number of living specimens than are possessed by any other 

 zoological institution. Because of previous numbers, our gain 

 in species during 1912 was necessarily small, but it was suf- 

 ficient to advance our collections to a point where we can feel 

 assured that our birds fairly represent the avifauna of the world. 

 An approximation of the limit of our capacity has been reached, 

 and our efforts in the future will be exerted in maintaining our 

 present status, and in replacing common species with rare ones, 

 rather than in securing a further increase in our collection 

 as a whole. 



Several important new installations became available for 

 the use of this department during 1912, greatly increasing the 

 exhibition value of the collections. The Eagle and Vulture 

 Aviary was occupied on May 20 by our large, much-scattered 

 collection of these birds. A substantial brick shelter-house in 

 the rear of the aviary provides ample accommodation for such 

 species as are unable to endure the severe cold of winter. A 

 well-lighted and commodious Pelican House, of brick, was 

 erected to replace the temporary one which had been in service 

 for several years. 



The free colony of night herons founded in 1911 on Lake 

 Agassiz has continued to increase, and now contains over thirty 

 birds. It is very gratifying to be able to state that free night 

 herons have now become a permanent feature of the Zoological 

 Park. 



During the year a large number of rare and interesting 

 specimens were received. The Galliformes were enriched by 

 the addition of a painted spurfowl {Galliyerdix lunulata) , the 

 lovely crested wood partridge (Rollulus roidroul) , and an ex- 

 ceptionally fine female ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata) , 

 which at the present time is in good plumage and perfect health. 



Our series of West Indian species was augmented by a 

 large collection from Haiti, including the striated woodpecker 

 {Chloronerpes striatus) ; palm chat (Dulus dominicus) ; Haitian 

 grackle {Holoquiscalus niger) ; pearly-eyed thrasher (Margar- 

 ops fuscata) ; Haitian robin (Mimocichla ardosiacea) ; Haitian 

 cuckoo (Smirotheria dominie ensis) and Haitian tanager (Phoe- 

 nicophihis palmarum) . 



