ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



scarcely follow its movements. The wings are 

 moved synchronously, not alternately, as has 

 often been stated. The feet play no active part 

 in swimming, e.xcept possibly as an aid in steer- 

 ing, and trail helplessly behind, bottoms up- 

 ward. 



The penguins are an isolated group, having 

 no near relatives. It is evident that they 

 formed an early branch from the avian stem, 

 and they retain many primitive characteristics. 

 The feathers are poorly developed, and scale- 

 like, especially those of the wings, where the 

 primaries are hardly differentiated from their 

 coverts. The bones of the wing are flattened 

 and the joints are stiff', so that the entire ap- 

 ])endage acts from the shoulder as an inflex- 

 ible paddle. 



About twenty species are known, ranging 

 from the diminutive Blue Penguin, about six- 

 teen inches in length, to the superb Emperor, 

 which reaches a height of four feet. All are 

 confined to the Antarctic regions, being most 

 abundant in the vicinity of the Falkland 

 Islands. 



It is of interest to note that the extinct 

 Great Auk exhibited a development ]iarallel to 

 that of the penguin, to which it was not closely 

 related. Its flightless condition was not due 

 to any unusual structural developments as in the 

 antipodean birds, but simply to the very dimin- 

 utive size of the wing which was perfectly 

 formed. 



Living penguins are always difficult to obtain, 

 and hitherto, we have not been able to give our 

 occasional specimens thoroughly adequate 

 quarters, with salt water. Early this spring, 

 however, a single black-footed penguin arrived 

 at the Zoological Park. He was placed in the 

 diving birds' tank in the Aquatic Bird House 

 for a time and then, as spring appeared, he 

 was quartered with the walrus as a companion, 

 where he prospered. In July, five more spec- 

 imens were obtained, and were introduced at 

 once to the single occupant of the pool. After 

 a satisfying bath in the artificial salt water 

 provided, they at once made themselves at home, 

 and now form an attractive exhibit. The poten- 

 tial energy represented by the extensive layer 

 of fat stored beneath their skins should enable 

 them to withstand any degree of cold to which 

 they are likely to be subjected at this latitude. 



Intellectually, penguins are not the most 

 advanced of birds. Once they have become 

 accustomed to confinement in dry quarters and 

 to receiving food from the hand of their keeper, 

 it is exceedingly difficult to persuade them to 

 avail themselves of the privileges of the bath. 



and to secure their food in a normal manner. 

 Thus, at first, our little flock suffered some- 

 what from the heat, refusing to enter the cool- 

 ing water unless compelled to do so, neither 

 could they be persuaded to feed on the killi- 

 fishes with which the pool was supplied. After 

 a short period of training, however, thev re- 

 verted to more normal habits, and now pur- 

 sue the fishes with remarkable agility. Also, 

 they have deigned to accept the hospitality of 

 a tarpaulin stretched over the rocks in a corner 

 of their enclosure, affording them much-needed 

 protection from the heat of mid-dav. 



"L. S. C. 



Mammal and Bird Colony. — The arrangement 

 of the animals in the yards about the Yak 

 House is about completed and the spectacle 

 presented to visitors is quite impressive. A 

 pair of fine yaks occupies a central position. 

 These animals have developed to the stage 

 where they are showy and picturesque. More- 

 over, they are active, and their capers are re- 

 markably agile for creatures of their size. East 

 of their spacious yard is a superb pair of elands. 

 Roaming over the gently rolling range which is 

 at an elevation from the visitor's point of view, 

 the outlines of these animals against the sky 

 line appear colossal. To the west of the yaks 

 is a range of about two acres. This contains 

 an assortment of kangaroos among which are 

 represented the great gray kangaroo, the giant 

 red kangaroo, the white-cheeked kangaroo and 

 the greater rock wallaby. With the kangaroos 

 are roaming several emus and a flock of guinea 

 fowl. The surrounding ranges are occupied by 

 ostriches, cassowaries and rheas. 



Nete Specimens. — The collection at the An- 

 telope House has been enriched by several 

 showy and valuable specimens. We were par- 

 ticularly fortunate in being able to secure a 

 number of African animals that recentlj' ar- 

 rived in this country. During the war in Eu- 

 rope and Africa the shi])ment of animals from 

 the other side will be impossible. Among the 

 new exhibits is a blotched giraffe, a pair of 

 bonteboks, a male sable antelope and a fringe- 

 eared beisa. The giraffe is a young specimen 

 eight feet and three inches in height. Un- 

 avoidably it was shipped in a high crate, and 

 we had considerable difficulty in bringing it 

 through the city owing to the necessitv of pass- 

 ing under the elevated lines and trolley wires. 

 This giraffe suffered many hardships in its 

 long journey from Africa, and was painfullv 

 injured during storms while on shipboard. 



