78 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



{H ijpotaenidia philippineiisis) , two white ibises {Guara alba), a 

 white-eyed duck (Marila nyroca) , besides a goodly number of 

 wood, mandarin and mallard ducks and Canada geese, are among 

 the most important. Of Gallinaceous birds, we reared the Bob- 

 white (Colinus virginianus) , the California quail {Lophortyx 

 calif ornicus) , the Curacao crested quail {Eupsychortijx crista- 

 tus), as well as golden, silver and Swinhoe pheasants. A num- 

 ber of Passerine birds also reached maturity, as reported in the 

 Bulletin. 



For several years the birds in the Flying Cage have made 

 more or less sporadic attempts at nesting, but in the spring of 

 1915, their efforts crystallized in a colony which closely simu- 

 lated a natural rookery. A small elm tree in one corner of the 

 cage was chosen as a site, and was literally bowed down by the 

 great weight of the nests. At one time, two pairs of snowy 

 egrets (Egretta candidissima) , three pairs of roseate spoonbills 

 (Ajaja ajaja) , two pairs of white ibises (Guara alba), and a 

 pair each of scarlet (G. rubra) and black-headed ibises (Ibis 

 melanocephala) , were building or engaged in incubation. Un- 

 fortunately, a very severe wind and rain storm wrecked many 

 of the nests and so disturbed the others that the rookery was 

 destroyed. However, two white ibises were fully reared, and 

 we have every reason to hope for better success during the com- 

 ing season. 



As a complement to the active campaign work in behalf 

 of the birds, which is being carried on by the Zoological Society, 

 a permanent exhibit of "Appliances for Attracting Birds" was 

 arranged in the Park, during the spring of 1915. A well-for- 

 ested spot bordering the eastern side of Baird Court was selected 

 as being the most advantageously placed, and a great variety of 

 bird houses and boxes were set up there. Nesting logs and boxes 

 of many patterns, food counters and shelters of several kinds 

 and various other paraphernalia for aiding the increase of our 

 native birds, were placed in suitable positions. Visitors to the 

 Park have evinced a great deal of interest in the exhibit, and 

 many persons have thus been induced to purchase and make use 

 of such appliances as appealed to them. 



Perhaps the most important contribution to ornithology 

 made by the Department of Birds was the discovery by the 

 Curator of an atavistic wing on the hind leg of pigeons and 

 other birds. This was elaborated as "A Tetrapteryx Stage in the 

 Ancestry of Birds," Zoologica, Vol. II, No. 2. 



