146 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



emeus. In captivity they are the best of all the large cursor- 

 ial birds, and live longer than either ostriches, rheas or 

 emeus. They are essentially birds of the thick forests rather 

 than open plains, and can not bear the glaring light and heat 

 of midsummer that is the delight of an ostrich. In captivity 

 they are very apt to be quarrelsome toward each other. 



Miscellaneous Birds in the Ostrich House. At present 

 these are so numerous and so important it is necessary to 

 mention a few of them, even though the labels may be sup- 

 posed to speak for them. They fall into several groups, 

 chiefly birds of prey and cranes. 



The California Condor, (Gymnogyps calif ornianus), is 

 kept here in winter, but in summer it will be found either 

 in the Flying Cage, or in an outdoor cage on the 

 eastern side of the Aquatic Bird House, (No. 5). This is 

 by far the rarest, and to all Americans the most interesting, 

 bird of prey in the Park. The species is confined to a very 

 small area in the rugged mountains of southern and lower 

 California, and beyond all doubt, the skin-collecting orni- 

 thologists will exterminate it within the next twenty years, 

 or less. The bird-lovers love it so much that in the presence 

 of opportunity few of them have the iron resolution to let 

 it alone. 



The King Vulture, (Gypagns pa pa}, is as its proud name 

 implies, the one member of the Vulture Family which really 

 is clad in royal robes, and color-decked to match. Its range 

 extends from Mexico and Central America to Trinidad and 

 Brazil. The visitor should not fail to see this gorgeously 

 caparisoned body of white, cream-yellow and black, and 

 head of orange, purple and crimson. Of course the im- 

 mature males and the females are not so splendidly colored 

 as the adult males. Two specimens spend their winters in 

 the Ostrich House. 



The Bateleur Eagle, of Africa, (Hclotarsus ccaitdatns) , has 

 narrowly missed the distinction of being the most beautiful 

 of all birds of prey. His plumage is charmingly colored 

 but he is out of proportion. His tail is so absurdly short 

 that his wings quite conceal it, and make him appear as if 

 altogether tailless. His really fine hood and massive body 

 plumage give the bird a very odd, top-heavy appearance. 



Both winter and summer, the Ostrich House will contain, 

 either indoors or in a yard outside, this remarkable bird: 



The Brush Turkey, or Telegalla, (Cathctunis lathami), is a 

 bird of the dark tropical forests of New Guinea and Aus- 

 tralia. For many years it has been regarded as a zoological 



