38 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



fluffy plumage, render them noteworthy ob- 

 jects. It is safe to say that seven Snowy Owls 

 living together in perfect health, is a sight 

 which is seldom seen, even in the best zoologi- 

 cal gardens. 



The fine Whooping Crane in the collection 

 should not be omitted from the list of rare 

 birds, as there are only three others in the 

 United States living in confinement. This 

 bird is an inhabitant of the Western Plains 

 and the Mississippi Valley, but is now very 

 rare. He well deserves his name, although 

 his loud ringing cry is more like a trumpet 

 call than a whoop. The means by which it 

 is produced is quite remarkable. The bird's 

 windpipe, which altogether is nearly five feet 

 in length, forms several complicated coils 

 within the hollowed breast-bone, very like the 

 convolutions of a French horn. This crane 

 is a beautiful and even majestic creature, 

 standing over five feet in height, and its entire 

 plumage is pure white. The tail feathers are 

 long and arched, and when the bird spreads 

 his wings, stretches out his neck, and runs 

 with great strides down his range, his value 

 as " a show bird " is very evident. 



Rare and I)itcrcstiug Maiumals. 



At this date the Society has on exhibition the 



follozving rave animals: 

 A Aliisk-Ox, from the Barren Grounds north 



of Great Bear Lake. 

 A Sumatran Rhinoceros, from Perak, Malay 



Peninsula. 

 Two young Grizzly Bears, from Alaska. 

 A pair of Talir, from the Himalayas. 

 A pair of Woodland Caribou, fully adult, from 



Maine. 

 A large male Orang-Utan, and a Bab v. nine 



months old. 

 Two baby Chimpanzees. 



A very large and fine Jaguar, from Paraguay. 

 A baby Sea-Lion, born on the dock at Santa 



Barbara, and mother. 

 An adult male Anoa (Pigmy Buffalo), from 



Celebes. 

 Eight Japanese Red-Faced Monkevs. 

 Young specimens (1902) oi Mouflon, Aoitdad, 



Buffalo, Elk, Red Deer, White-Tailed Deer, 



Sika Deer and Mexican Deer. 



Almost all visitors dislike reptiles except when 

 tlicy are Ijeliind the plate-glass of the Reptile House, 

 and wage a continuous warfare against the harmless 

 little garter-snakes, which the Society so carefully 

 fosters about the grounds. Twice the writer has had 

 occasion to remonstrate with men engaged in 

 slaughter; and on various walks the crushed re- 

 mains of the little creatures have been noted. 



SNOWY EGRET. 



"Czar," the little Kurupeaii bear cub, recently devel- 

 oped two large abscesses on the Ijack, about the loins. 

 With the assistance of four keepers, the sweUings were 

 lanced, and the pus drawn. Bites or scratches received in 

 play are thought to be the cause. 



A furious thrust through the fence caught tlie Mouflon 

 ram on the sharp horn of the .\noa (Pigmy Hutfalo), whose 

 temper, by-the-way, is akin to that of the Sandhill Crane. 

 The horn penetrated the skin, at the base of the skull, 

 ijuite to the bone, but not however inflicting a serious in- 

 jury. The wound was successfully dressed with antisep- 

 tics and made a slow but good recovery. 

 -X- -X- -x- 



Of all the water-fowl in the Park, the Mallard is the 

 most prolific and persistent breeder. At one time seven 

 ducks had stolen nests in the long swamp grass near the 

 Small Mammals' Pond, and laid at the least calculation 

 150 eggs. Soon after these had hatched, the surface of 

 the pond seemed to be infested with a new species of 

 water-bug. The young mallards reared this season will 

 number nearly 200. 



* * * 



It is worthy of note that Creat Blue Herons, numer- 

 ous Night Herons and .Screech Owls frequently visit the 

 Park. The herons are attracted by the birds in the Flying 

 Cage, and one Night Heron has remained all summer 

 perching upon that structure. Often about sunset a gray 

 Screech Owl has been seen on the top of the Screech Owls' 

 cage, endeavoring to break in. Mr. Beebe believes that 

 if it were not for the blasting, a great many more would 

 make their homes lii-re. 



