242 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



but their regular haunts are in the Eastern Hemi- 

 sphere. They breed in Northern Europe and Si- 

 beria, and in winter migrate southward to Africa, 

 India, and China. 



As in the case of other sandpipers, four eggs, 

 spotted and blotched with brown, are laid on the 

 ground, within a dense tuft of grass. To his shame 

 be it said that after all his elaborate fencing and 



dancing, the male takes no part in incubating the 

 eggs or in caring for the young — vivere sat vincere. 

 In August and September the encounters between 

 the rival birds grow less and less energetic, and in a 

 few weeks the last frayed-out feather has fallen 

 from the ruff. With it also disappears all pugnac- 

 ity, and the birds live together most amicably until 

 spring. c. w. b. 



SULEIM,'\N MARKHOR. 



Zoological Park 



King Vultures. — A pair of young king vultures, not yet 

 in full adult plumage, form a striking exhibit and with the 

 CaUfornia and South American condors, the black, Turkey, 

 and griffon vultures well represent this Suborder. 



Cassowaries. — A rare Bennett cassowary and another 

 unidentified species of the Ceram type are now in the 

 Ostrich House, the yards of which are all filled; some, 

 however, with birds which will eventually be settled in the 

 Pheasants' Aviary. 



Wading Birds. — The nucleus of a collection of the 

 waders, especially the game birds of the world, has been 

 formed — dowitchers, rails, ruffs, and lapwings being already 

 represented. Covies of six or eight species of the smaller 

 quail, as well as francolins, tinamous,and partridges share 

 the in-door flying-cage of the new Bird House. 



jSfew Parrots. — Five Bahama Amazon parrots, the gift 

 of Mr. Thomas Barbour, are valuable, as representing a 

 species which has an extremely limited habitat and which 

 will become extinct within a few years. Many other parrots 

 have been added to the collections, including the rare 

 Ganga cockatoos and tiny azure-backed parrotlets. 



Tlie Hawks. — The ha\\'k collection is larger than ever 

 before. Besides full-plumaged red-tailed and red-shoulder- 

 ed "chicken" hawks, theie are Harris and Sennett white- 

 tailed hawks from the West, marsh and sparrow hawks, 

 osprey, gyrfalcon, kestral, and no less than eight caracaras, 

 whose ludicrous performances are as unhawk-like as they 

 are amusing. 



The Weaver Birds. — The weaver birds now occupy all 

 of the northeast cages of the main hall, in the new Bird 

 House. These dainty little birds are a great attraction 

 — the brilliant hues of the Napoleons, bishops and pin- 

 tailed nonpareils, the long trailing tails of the whydah- 

 finches and the untiring nest -weaving-energies of the masked 

 weavers providing unfailing interest for the visitors. 



A merican Flamingoes. — The rearing of two young Ameri- 

 can flamingoes has been attended with complete success, 

 and it is hoped that with the recent discovery of a diet which 

 seems perfectly adapted to their needs, there will be no 

 difficulty in ultimately rearing a good-sized flock of these 

 birds, which from the standpoint of interest and exhibition 

 are sine qud non to a zoological park. 



Skimmers and Terns. — \ second flock of young black 

 skimmers and common terns are being reared. These 

 birds, so preeminently flyers, swing round and round their 

 in-door cage, and their plumage proves them in perfect 

 health. These are a few of the hundreds of birds which 

 are being kept in health and happiness in the Zoological 

 Park — the first attested bv their appetites and plumage, 

 the latter by their songs and nest-building. 



Oul-door Flying-Cage. — The birds in the out-door flying- 

 cage are in perfect condition, and a dozen more American 

 egrets have recently been added to their numbers, together 

 vrith many herons and ducks. The snowy egrets and the 

 white ibises nested close together this year and the latter 

 hatched a young bird. When only a few days old it tum- 

 bled from the nest and landed uninjured on the ground. 

 One of the parents without hesitation flew down, picked 

 up the young bird and carried it back to the nest — a per- 

 formance which in my experience is unique. 



Aquatic Birds. — The duck collection nowincludes canvas- 

 backs, the gift of Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton, and the 

 rare New Zealand gray ducks. Bar-headed, spur-winged, 

 and barnacle geese are recent arrivals and it is with special 

 satisfaction, we announce, that with the arrival of a pair 

 of Bewick swans the collection of these birds is complete, 

 embracing all seven existing species — the trumpeter, whis- 



