ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



SPECTACLE OWL, 



THE SPECTACLE OWL 



WHEN an unknown but interesting bird arrives at the 

 Zoological Park, after housing it comfortably the 

 first thing is to find out its name, and that done to discover 

 what has been written of its food and of its habits. One 

 day the express brought a strange-looking Owl, labelled 

 South America. His eyes were large, round, and yellow; 

 his toes were two in front and two behind, as any owl's 

 should be; but his breast, back, and head were covered 

 with the most delicate, fluffy down of purest white, while 

 across his face, mask-wise, was a band of black from which 

 his yellow eyes glared and his beak snapped ominously. 



His apt name was soon found, — the Spectacle Owl of 

 Central America, but search for an account of his habits 

 was continued in vain. The downy fellow was in his juve- 

 nile dress, and within a month single black and brown 

 feathers began to appear here and there, until at present 

 his back and wings are full-feathered, the latter brown, 

 crossed with a band of white spots. His breast and under 

 parts are changing little by little from white to a warm 

 buffy color, while his head and his black mask still remain 

 the same. When he becomes adult the beautiful white head 

 feathers will be lost, and replaced with others of a dark 

 chocolate color. 



The Latin name of this bird is Puhaln'.\- perspicillata, 



which tells us only what we know is true of 

 all owls, that they are fierce hunters and 

 keen of sight. 



What peculiar characteristics are his yet 

 remain to be seen. He has thus far uttered 

 no sound. He seems active, even in strong 

 sunlight, takes a thorough bath daily and 

 enjoys a diet of mice and sparrows. Scores 

 of times each day he hears his black mask 

 compared to the goggles of an automobilist 

 by the admiring crowds which pass his 



cage. C. WILLIAM BEEBE. 



A NEW COLLECTION AT THE 

 AQUARIUM 



J^jThrough the courtesy of the United States 

 Fisheries Bureau, the fishes which were on 

 exhibition at the Exposition at St. Louis have 

 been transferred to the New York Aquariiun. 

 The Fisheries Bureau has maintained an 

 excellent aquarium at the Exposition during 

 the summer, which was perhaps the most 

 popular exhibit on the grounds. 



The collection transferred successfully to 

 New York numbered i8o specimens, in 

 which were represented thirty-seven species, 

 including one seal and two turtles. Although 

 the majority of the fishes were tropical or 

 southern species the transfer was made dur- 

 ing cold winter weather with the loss of only 

 thirty specimens, the success attained being uue chiefly 

 to the zeal and ability of Mr. Burnham, of the car 

 service of the Fisheries Bureau. The government fish 

 transportation cars, six in number, are built especially for 

 fish-cultural work, and have permanent crews living on 

 board. During transportation, fishes require attention day 

 and night. 



Among the fishes received from St. Louis were grayling, 

 large lake trout, quillbacks, and short-nosed gars, from 

 western waters. There were red-snappers, sheepshead, 

 channel bass, file-fish, pilot-fish, and spade-fish from south- 

 ern waters, and many beautiful species from the Bermudas. 

 The Aquarium has not had specimens of grayling, red-snap- 

 per, spade-fish, and sheepshead for several years. 



The Zoological Society is to be congratulated on having 

 such profitable and pleasant relations with United States 

 Fish Commissioner Bowers and his representative at St. 

 Louis, Mr. Ravenel. c. H. T. 



Recent important additions to the collection of rare 

 birds are — a Little Brown Crane and two Willow Ptarmi- 

 gan from Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle; a Tiger 

 Bittern from Mexico, and a Patagonian Lapwing Plover 

 from the Argentine Republic. 



