328 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



(Ocydromus australis, O. brachypterus, and O. earli), all from South 

 Island, are on exhibition. They were received as a gift from the 

 New Zealand Government. 



The white-backed trumpeter (Psophia leucoptcra) represents a 

 group of South American birds related to the cranes and rails. 

 The trumpeters are forest birds and are sometimes found in con- 

 siderable flocks. They are easily tamed and are often kept by the 

 natives to protect domestic poultry, much as our farmers keep the 

 guinea fowl for the same purpose. The loud call must be particu- 

 larly impressive when heard in a dark jungle. 



Another member of the crane assemblage is the kagu (Rhynoche- 

 tos jubatus), a rare bird found only on the island of New Caledonia, 

 east of Australia. It represents an ancient type, with no existing 

 near relatives. The kagu is about the size and general form of a 

 night heron. Several specimens of this unusual bird are on exhi- 

 bition. 



SHORE BIRDS, GULLS, AND PIGEONS 



In most modern systems for the classification of birds, the snipes 

 and plovers, gulls and terns, auks, and pigeons are grouped together 

 in a single order (Charadriiformes), which takes its name from 

 the typical family, the plovers (Charadriidse). A few species of 

 " shore birds," as the plovers and snipes are usually called, and some 

 gulls, are regularly kept on exhibition; but the chief interest in the 

 order, so far as zoological gardens are concerned, is concentrated on 

 the sub-order Columbae, the pigeons and doves. 



The shore birds are difficult to keep without the specially pre- 

 pared quarters which it is hoped the park can sometime arrange; 

 '?ut from the fact that a specimen of the ruff (Philomachus pugnax) 

 was on exhibition in the bird house for over 10 years, the outlook 

 seems encouraging for success with other species of this interesting 

 family. Avocets, stilts, plovers, curlews, and many of the larger 

 snipes should be as easily kept as the ruff. Two species of lapwings 

 are now shown. 



Certain members of the gull family are to be seen in the big flight 

 cage. These include the large herring gull (Larus argentatus) , a 

 species common to the northern parts of both Europe and America 

 which has nested here ; the more tropical laughing gull (L. atricilla) , 

 a smaller, more graceful species sometimes called the " black- 

 headed gull"; the beautiful little silver gull (L. novmhollandice) of 

 Australia; and the large Pacific gull (Gabianus pacificus). The fin- 

 est of all the American species, the great black-backed gull (Larus 

 marinus), is so destructive to smaller birds in the same inclosure 

 that the specimens in the park must be exhibited only with large 

 geese, swans, and pelicans, or kept in separate yards. 



