ZOOT.OCHC'AL SOCIKTV HLI.LKTIN' 



A SIKANCK I'Kf 

 A li,.;it liilKii luTc.n lliMl liL-cMine very 



15;irr()\v IJustard {Trtirlicloti.i harrovii). This 

 diminutive bird is iiardly one-half so large as 

 the great bustard. Both sexes are sandy in 

 general coloration, but the male is diversified 

 by black crest and throat, and slaty face, chest 

 and abdomen. It is a native of South Africa, 

 wliere, witli several congeners, it is known as 

 knorhaan. It is found on the ojjen veldts, and 

 like all Inistards. it is very difficult to ap- 

 jiroach. 



In captivity, although not especially wild, 

 they are very timid and panicky, and easilj' 

 startled into dashing against the wire of their 

 enclosure, witli risk of serious injury to tlie 

 curiously brittle bones of legs and wings. All 

 are now in the best of health, and form a happy 

 family with the great bustard and ocellated 

 turkey, which share their roomy corral. 



Shtia (lulls. — Most of the gulls are to some 

 extent carnivorous and not to be trusted when 

 young or weak creatures arc within reach of 

 their powerful beaks. In no group, however, 

 is tliis hawk-like propensity so well developed 

 as in the Skuas (Merjalestris). Four species 

 are recognized, all plain brownish in color, one 

 hailing from the northern hemisphere, the three 

 others from the Antarctic. 



In its gentler moods, when food is abundant, 

 tiie Skua contents itself with dashing fiercely 

 at industrious gulls of more mild-mannered 

 species, so startling them tliat they disgorge 

 their latest meal, whicli the tliief catclies be- 

 fore it readies the ground. Tliis disgorging is 

 a habit which is widely spread among fish- and 

 meat-eating birds, and captive specimens will 

 always regurgitate tlieir food if unduly dis- 

 turbed. 



During the nesting season, Jiowever, or when 

 food is scarce, tlie rapacious nature of the bird 



asserts itself, and it becomes worse th;in any 

 hawk. Young birds of ground-nesting species, 

 small mammals, and even adult birds of fairly 

 powerful species, are levied' on to furnisli pro- 

 vender for the ravenous Skuas. 



The Society's collection now includes two 

 s))ecies of Skuas — two individuals of the Cliil- 

 ian form [Mer/alcstris cliilensis) brought from 

 Kurope in IS) 12 by tlie writer, and one nortlierii 

 Skua {M. xlciia). secured a little later from a 

 German dealer. The tliree birds agree well 

 eiiougli .-imong themselves, but woe betide tile 

 unt'ortunate duck or niglit luniii lliat settles in 

 I heir paddock. 



Kmii Coloni/. — Althougii tile yak shelter was 

 not quite completed, we could not ignore an 

 opportunity this spring to acquire four fine 

 young emus as occupants of one of its spacious 

 corrals. These birds, with our old jiair, have 

 been placed together in the northeastern en- 

 closure. They have settled down amicably, 

 and if we succeed in acclimatizing them, as we 

 hope to be able to do. they will make an inter- 

 esting grou]). L. S. C. 



Reptiles from Costa Rii-a.-'Slr. Lee S. Cran- 

 dall. Assistant Curator of 15irds, has recently 

 returned from a collecting expedition in Costa 

 Rica, where he was successful in gathering a 

 large number of interesting birds and ampiiibi- 

 ans. Mr. Crandall also brought with him a 

 series of small mammals and reptiles. Among 

 the particularly interesting amphibians collect- 

 ed by him were some small toads of the Genus 

 Deudrobates. Tliese creatures climb about on 

 damp logs or over the leaves of low vegetation. 

 They are remarkable in their brilliant colora- 

 tion and might appropriately be called the 



llAKliOW Hl'SIAItl) 



