/nol OCICAI. SOCIEIY BULLKTIN 



'79 



■BCT.'fflatt-:^ 



.1-oologital J-^iotre. 



Earlv in tlu- war, hoim-s wrn- providfil tlu- uilii birds 

 which might need them, in thi- shape of small boxes, nailed 

 in the trees. These were |)roni])tly occupied by starlings, 

 and during the summer three broods were raised. .As soon 

 as the last family of young birds was able to fly, the boxes 

 were vacated. Then the gray sr|uin-cls, .seeing sjilcndid pos- 

 sibilities, immediately took possession, and commenced prep- 

 arations for winter. But their e.xpectations were short- 

 lived, for they have been evicted by the red squirrels, who 

 are storing up ([Uantities of acorns and chestnuts, and bid 

 fair to remain in possession. Particular significance may 

 be attached to the fact, that the starling rears three broods 

 in one season, as it demonstrates the ])ossibility of its be- 

 coming a greater nuisance than the English sparrow. I.ast 

 year a special etTort was made to "colonize" a pair of black 

 squirrels in the large oak trees near the Service Building. 

 The animals finally established themselves about as was 

 desired, withstood the severe winter successfully, and have 

 reared an interesting family 



During the year 1903, etTorts were madi- to rear terns and 

 skimmers, but with indilTerent results. This summer, 

 twenty terns and six skimmers have been hatched, and are 

 developing into strong birds. .Although their enclosure 

 is narrow and the pool small, the young skimmers already 

 trv their characteristic flight of sailing close to the water, a 

 feat which they have learned quite by instinct, as there arc 

 no adult birds to teach them. 



* * * 



A spectacle owl from South .America, has been added to 

 the Bird-Hf)use collections. It is snowy white, with a circle 

 of dark feathers around the eyes, giving the appearance of a 

 pair of spectacles. Specimens of this species are very rare, 

 and this is the first to reach the Zoological Park. 



The mammal collection has been enriched by the addition 

 of three sloths, representing both the three-toefl antl two- 

 toed species. The two-toed species is represented by a 

 mother and her young. The little fellow is about ten inches 

 in length, and has a fully developed coat of hair. Both the 

 adult animals feed well, which is more than could be said of 

 the sloths we have previously exhibited. The mother and 

 voung are lively — for sloths — and vigorous, anrl there 

 seems to be no reason why they should not thrivi-. 



* * * 



.A jiair of cockateels which Mr. Beebe kejjt out of doors 

 last winter, survived the rigors of our severe climate so well 

 that the same experiment will be tried again. In the spring, 

 the birds were in much finer condition than any of thi- others 

 which had been carefullv sheltered. 



.Although the sandhill ( rancs have long passed the nesting 

 -ea,son, they still defend their old nest with a vigor which 

 I xciles admiration. Both birds spend their time clo.se to 

 ihe nesting site, and probably will again select it as their 

 nesting place. Two eggs were produced this spring, but 

 proveci to be infertile. .As it was the first time these birds 

 l>ad mated, and the occurrence is so rare in captivity, it is to 

 l>e lioiK'd that voung birds will be forthcoming next year. 



* * * 



A rattlesnake from South America, is the latest addition 

 lo ihc Reptile House. The general tint of the snake is a 

 light gray, and the ty[>ical markings of the diamond-back 

 ■ ind banded rattlers are scarcely discernible. This specimen 

 was found on the western slope of the .Andes. 



* * * 



Two hundred and seventy-three specimens of the snakes 

 I ommon to western New York were recently ]>resenled to 

 I he Park by Messrs. Morris Pearsall and .Adam Dove. The 

 roUection contained a number of adult banded rattlesnakes, 

 presenting different color phases, and also a large number 

 of young snakes. Some of the latter were born on the col- 

 lecting ground, and others in the Reptile House. For the 

 young ones, an enclosure has been made in the east end of 

 the Reptile Hou.se, where they can have an abundance of 

 light, and a temperature suitable to their requirements. 

 .Although the snakes are but a few wteks old. they are feed- 

 ing well, and apparentlv will thrive and grow. 

 ' * * * 



.An interesting experiment is being atteni|)led with the 

 plot of ground directly e.i.st of Mountain Sheep Hill. .An 

 irregular space bounded by the ButTalo Range, Mountain 

 Sheep Hill, and the Service Road, is being enclo.sed by a very 

 low wire fence. This space includes two small ptmds, a 

 spacious grass plot, and a number of clumps of small bushes. 

 Into it will be placed a number of turtles and tortoises with 

 the ho])e that they will breed. One pond will be entirely 

 devoted to the Florida soft-shell turtli s. and the other to the 

 common varieties, and terrapin. They will be liberated 

 this fall, in order to give them ample time to .seek winter 

 quarters in the earth, and in the mud at the bottom of the 

 jionds. 



* * * 



The Burrowing Rodents' Quarters are being repaired and 

 renovated. The old wire work has been removed and re- 

 placed with new material. The earth and rock sleeping 

 dens have been entirely removed, pending the laying of 

 good concrete floors with catch-basins, when they will be 

 rebuilt. The new arrangement will render it impossible 

 for the animals to hide so persistently as heretofore, rats 

 will be entirely eliminated, and it will be possible to open up 

 and in.spect the animals' sleeping dens. 



* * * 



The temper of the .small puma at the Lion House corre- 

 sponds very closely to that of the domestic cat. In fact, 

 .she is really affectionate. When her keepers enter the cage 

 in the morning she comes up to them fearlessly, rubs against 

 them, and demonstrates that she wishes to be friendly. The 

 male puma, on the contrary, is exceedingly vicious. 



The greatest difficulty was ex]>erienccd this year in cap- 

 turing the birds in the Flying Cage, preparatory to putting 

 them into winter quarters. Mr. Beebe declares that at no 

 time since the first season that the cage was usefl have the 

 birds been so vigorous and active, and .so diflicult to catch 

 without injurv. 



* * * 



The largest giraffe, the male, has grown over six inches 

 in height since October 17, 1903, the date of the arrival 

 of the pair in the Park. The general condition of all the 

 stock in the .Antelope House is all that could be desired. A 

 female Baker's roan antelope has been put with the male, 

 and there is also a .second Markhor. Both the latter animals 

 have endured our humid summer exceedingly well, and con- 

 sidering the high altitudes in which they live, they .should 

 endure our winters without loss of health. K. R. S. 



