136 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



WILD-FOWL POND, 



Heretofore Called the Aquatic Mammals' Pond. 



Although the birds on this pond are chiefly duplicates of 

 those in the Duck Aviary (No. 3), yet the interest of this 

 exhibit is of special character, and greatly enjoyed by hosts 

 of visitors. This is the nursery of the ducks and geese, 

 where, in the tangle of long grass, briers and underbrush 

 along the east side of the pond, the nests are built in early 

 spring, the eggs are laid and patiently incubated. Finally 

 the broods of ducklings are led to the water, to feed to reple- 

 tion, throughout the summer, on the worms, bugs and in- 

 sects so dear to the appetite of these amusing little fellows. 

 In tiny box houses erected on posts above the water, young 

 wood ducks are hatched, scrambling down just as in Nature 

 they make their escape from the hollow tree which the 

 parents select for a nesting place. 



When the mallard ducklings become half grown, they 

 learn that peanuts and bread are good provender, and fear- 

 lessly follow visitors about, begging for crumbs. 



Cope Lake is the especial province of the nesting pairs of 

 Canada geese, and sometimes as many as eight golden-col- 

 ored goslings are hatched in one nest on the small island. 



THE PHEASANT AVIARY, AND PIGEON AVIARY, 

 No. 40. 



This Entire Collection is the Gift of Mr. Jacob H. Schiff. 



The Pheasant Aviary is a building like a corridor 240 feet 

 long with a cross pavilion at each end. The main structure 

 is divided into 22 shelters connecting with a like number of 

 wire enclosed outside runways, each of which is 8 feet wide. 

 24 feet long and 8 feet high. The two end pavilions furnish 

 32 smaller shelters and runways, making a total of 48 com- 

 partments. The shelters are divided into two stories, the 

 upper series being designed for pigeons, doves and perch- 

 ing birds of various kinds. Each bird in this aviary can at 

 every moment of his life choose according to his needs from 

 the following series of accommodations that are available 

 to him: An open, sunlit yard, a storm shelter with an open 



