SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 79 



A pair of the rare great bustards (Otis tarda) added to 

 the collection a group (sub-order Otides) never before in the 

 possession of the Society. Although of large size, these birds 

 are extremely delicate and difficult to maintain in health. 



While in Europe during the summer the Curator secured 

 a number of exceedingly rare and desirable birds. Most im- 

 portant were representatives of three species of touracos, — the 

 great-billed {T uracils macrorhynchus) , Buffon's (T. buffoni) 

 and purple-crested (Gallirex porphyreolopha) . We were later 

 able to secure a pair of the very uncommon gray touracos 

 (Schizorhis concolor) , which with the white-crested species {T. 

 conjthaix) already in the collection, gives us the most nearly 

 complete series of touracos in captivity. The Curator also se- 

 cured in Germany a very large specimen of the ground horn- 

 bill (Bucorax ahyssmicus) , a species we have long desired. 



The arrival of the fully adult horned screamer (Palamedea 

 cornuta) with the curious unicorn-like growth on the head 

 well developed, completes the series of screamers, and gives us 

 the distinction of being the only Zoological Park possessing all 

 of the species of the order Palamedeiformes. 



Early in November, announcement was made of the dis- 

 persal of a large private collection, situated in the center of 

 Belgium, near Brussels. The Assistant Curator left for Belgium 

 at once and was able to secure many rarities. A canvass of 

 the principal zoological gardens of the continent and England 

 added greatly to their numbers. The birds were assembled 

 in London at the gardens of the Zoological Society, and brought 

 thence to New York, where they arrived safely on December 

 25th. There were 119 specimens, representing 69 species, of 

 which QQ were not represented in the Society's collection. 



Among the most important are two immature specimens 

 of Count Raggi's bird of paradise (Paradisea raggiana), the 

 male of which, when fully adult, somewhat resembles the 

 greater birds of paradise now in the Zoological Park, except 

 that the ornamental plumes are chocolate-red instead of yellow. 



The great bower bird (Chlamudodera maculata) , of Aus- 

 tralia, will attract much attention, because of his peculiar call, 

 which is indistinguishable from the mew of a cat. 



Most delicate of all birds which so far have been kept in 

 captivity are the tiny purple sunbirds, (Arachnecthra asiatica) 

 from India. No larger than a hummingbird, the plumage of the 



