ZOOLOOrCAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1235 



niDiitlis appearing to be in thriving condition, 

 we blame them for importing a disease that 

 killed the entire group. All the s])eeiniens of 

 this much lamented collection died within ten 

 days' time. 



All liiirrc.siiiKj Patient. — It is with much sat- 

 isfaction that we note the steady and marked 

 improvement of the gorilla Dinah. Early in 

 the winter Dinah was afflicted with paralysis 

 of all her limbs and we had little ho))es of her 

 recovery. She apparently passed through a se- 

 vere crisis and has returned to health and 

 strength. She is able to walk without difficulty 

 and the use of her arms is nearly normal. 

 Since the time of her illness she has gained 

 three pounds in weight and is much improved 

 in disposition. Dinah is under .i strict appli- 

 cation of the fresh air treatment and during tlu 

 cold days this winter was bundled in blankets 

 by her keeper and wheeled about the Park in 

 her carriage for at least two hours. 



Our Gibbons. — It appears that we are to 

 break more records with our gibbons in cap- 

 tivity. Our two specimens continue to thrive 

 and it is of interest to note that one of these is 

 of a species with a very bad reputation as re- 

 gards health in captivity — the hoolock gibbon. 



(orji- Hav/ir/ioiiiitls. — After the winter months 

 the work of renovating some of the buildings 

 was taken in hand and the painting of new 

 backgrounds was recently finished by Mr. ¥.. A. 

 Costain, in the cage of the larger constricting 

 snakes at the extreme westerly end of the Re))- 

 tile House. From a series of photographs Mr. 

 Costain has rendered a very beautiful effect of 

 jungle vegetation in South America. The palms, 

 tangled vines and branches bearing parasitic 

 plants with brilliant flowers, impart a very in- 

 teresting effect. It is from the country shown 

 in this background that we shall receive a num- 

 ber of reptiles the coming summer as we antici- 

 pate that the war conditions will give us much 

 trouble in obtaining Old ^^'orld re])tilcs. 



R. I,. 1). 



A JVandcring Meif/aiiser. — Many birds cap- 

 tured under unusual circumstances, have come 

 to the Zoological Park. They have flown into 

 windows or telegraph wires, or have been 

 picked up at sea. But one of the most interest- 

 ing cases which has come to the notice of the 

 writer, is that of an American merganser. This 

 bird is an unusually fine specimen, in the hand- 

 some black and white plumage of the adult 

 male, and is entirely without injurv. 



.\s .1 watchman was making his weekly 

 rounds through the empty tube of the Catskill 



Aqueduct, near the shaft at Ki.^th Street and 

 Edgecomb Avenue, he noticed a H.ip])ing object 

 in the tunnel ahead of him. Not without some 

 misgivings, he approached, and the light from 

 his lantern disclosed a much bedraggled bird. 

 It was captured with a little trouble, and the 

 watchman. William Carey, thoughtfully tele- 

 ])honed to the Zoological Park, asking us to send 

 for a strange duck. 



Our pleasure at receiving the gift was not 

 entirely unreserved, as mergansers are very dif- 

 ficult subjects during the first days of captivity. 

 However, after much careful nursing by Keeper 

 Atkin. the bird was brought safely through the 

 first stages and is now enjoying life in the 

 northern jjaddock of the Goose Aviarv. It is 

 the first of his kind we have ever exhibited and 

 we shall never have a finer. 



The most remarkable part of the affair lies 

 in the fact that, except for a few shafts, the 

 Aqueduct tube, which is not yet in use, is en- 

 tirely closed. According to the watchman, the 

 opening at l(i.5tli Street, which is .500 feet deep, 

 and one near Yonkers, with a droj) of 2.50 feet, 

 are the only ones not covered over. As access 

 could not be gained in any other w.iy. it seems 

 certain that the bird must in some w.iy have 

 dro})ped down one of the perpeudicul.ir shafts, 

 tlie least of which is 250 feet ! 



Experimental Feedinc/. — Of late years, many 

 advances have been made in the treatment of 

 jiiling animals. Serums and antitoxins have 

 been obtained to combat specific diseases, while 

 modern methods of care and treatment have 

 greatly reduced the number of cases. Still, the 

 eccentricities of wild animals in cajjtivity offer 

 many obstacles not met with in domestic breeds, 

 .and often make even a correct diagnosis diffi- 

 cult. The first indication of illness is often a 

 refusal of food, and an animal that will take no 

 nourishment is doomed. Birds are among the 

 most ])rovoking in this respect, and among them 

 all. in spite of its great size and apparent hardi- 

 ness, the ostrich is perha])s the most puzzling, 

 \\'ith the slightest ])hysieal derangement, an os- 

 trich "goes off its feed. " and if heroic measures 

 are not adopted, soon becomes so emaciated as 

 to become a prey to some really dangerous ail- 

 ment. 



On December 23, 191 K a fine m.ile South 

 .\frican ostrich, received during the summer 

 from one of the great Arizona farms, refused 

 his morning meal. He showed no symptoms 

 whatever, and appeared to be in jjcrfect condi- 

 tion. A week passed, and the bird began to 

 show the effects of his abstinence. At this point. 

 Keeper George Snyder came to the rescue. At 



