320 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



Australia and the neighboring islands are the homes of a number 

 of ostrichlike birds. The park possesses examples of two of these 

 peculiar types. The common cassowary {Casuarim galeatus) is a 

 native of Ceram, but closely related forms occur in New Guinea, 

 Australia, and on other islands. The emu (Dromiceius novcehol- 

 landice) comes from Australia. The birds kept in the park have laid 

 many of the beautiful and characteristic dark green eggs, about 10 

 of which constitute the usual clutch. 



The kiwi, or apteryx, is the smallest of the ratite birds. Several 

 species are known, all of which inhabit New Zealand, where they 

 are now becoming rare. The species on exhibition in the bird house 

 is Apteryx mantelli, confined to North Island. The plumage is 

 hair-like. Kiwis are shy, retiring birds; they feed principally upon 

 worms, for which they probe the earth with the long bill. 



THE STORKS AND THEIR RELATIVES 



This group (Ciconiiformes) of water birds includes, among other 

 families, the pelicans, cormorants, snakebirds, herons, storks, ibises, 

 and flamingoes. Most of the species are essentially aquatic and some 

 are among the most expert of swimmers. Other kinds are primarily 

 waders, with long legs and with the feet imperfectly webbed. There 

 is likewise great variation in the power of flight and among the 

 diverse species are found some of the swiftest and most graceful as 

 well as the most sluggish of water birds awing. 



PELICANS AND CORMORANTS 



The members of the section of ciconiid birds which includes the 

 pelicans, cormorants, and darters are distinguished from the storks 

 and herons by their very short legs and the completely webbed feet ; 

 even the hind toe, which is in reality turned sharply inward, is con- 

 nected by a web. 



The American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrarhynchos) are 

 graceful birds on the wing or in the water and very clumsy ashore. 

 In the breeding season a curious horny knob appears on the bill of 

 the adult bird. These pelicans are common in the interior of 

 western North America ; the specimens inhabiting the " pelican 

 pond " came from Wyoming. The brown pelican of the Southern 

 States (P. occidentalis) and several exotic species are exhibited*in 

 summer in the big flight cage. 



Pelicans are fascinating birds to watch and frequently reward the 

 observer with some queer antics. On one occasion the flock of Amer- 

 ican white pelicans in the park was seen to form a circle in the water, 

 all the birds intent toward the center, with bills frequently sub- 

 merged. Suddenly the cause of the commotion was apparent, for 



