gg NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Orders. Species. Specimens. 



Scansores, Toucans 5 14 



Piciformes, Woodpeckers 3 8 



Passeriformes, Thrushes, Sparrows, and 



all Perching Birds.... 248 1,362 



52 Orders 5^3 2,61 5 



DEPARTMENT OF REPTILES. 

 Raymond L. Ditmars, Curator; Charles E. Snyder, First Keeper. 



A notable increase of both species and specimens is shown in 

 the past year's census of the Reptile House. Forty-eight more 

 species were on exhibition at the close of 1908 than on the same 

 date of the preceding year. The greatest increase among species 

 has been with the lizards, a fine series of which has been placed 

 on exhibition in special table cases, showing rare African and 

 Australian species. 



Among the important species of serpents added during the 

 year were large examples of the South American bushmaster 

 and the fer-de-lance, both the gift of Mr. Edward Wheelock 

 Runyan, of this city. A valuable series of Mexican snakes was 

 collected by our special agent, Gustav Sabille. From Africa we 

 received a fine example of the rare black python and a series of 

 pufif adders showing many color variations. Australia was repre- 

 sented by typical examples of many deadly snakes of that con- 

 tinent — the brown snake, and an innocuous species, the carpet 

 snake, and a small python. Two large king cobras were pur- 

 chased, and in addition to the large example that has been on 

 exhibition over eight years, they form a striking group of these 

 formidable reptiles. 



A novelty among the separate exhibits on the main floor of 

 the building consists of a collection of Indian fishes. These were 

 the gift of Mr. Otto Eggeling, of this city. Among them is a 

 pair of climbing perch, a pair of guramis, and several extremely 

 elongate catfish. The climbing perch are particularly interest- 

 ing, as they can leave the water and crawl about on land by 

 means of their peculiarly constructed ventral fins. This species 

 is provided with water sacs connected with the gills, keeping those 

 organs moist for some time while their owner is out of the water. 

 The gurami is also an interesting fish, as it has a habit of build- 

 ing its nest of bubbles. It often breeds in captivity. 



