ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN' 



and a successful outcome is almost a foregone 

 conclusion. 



Under tlie able protection of the gander, the 

 goose incubates the eggs for a period of about 

 four weeks. When the young, usually four to 

 seven in number, finally emerge, they proceed 

 at once to the main occupation of their lives — 

 grazing. And, carefully guarded by the par- 

 ents, they continue to graze until they assume 

 amazing and unwieldy proportions, soon equal- 

 ling the bulk of their parents. 



In the Zoological Park we have reared yearly 

 a goodly number of Canada geese, our flock of 

 these birds now numbering more than fifty. In 

 the spring of ]f)1.5, the usual number of pairs 

 nested, and succeeded in hatching their goslings. 

 15 ut one curiously acquisitive and equally pug- 

 nacious ])air. ajiparcntly dissatisfied witii their 

 own brood of five, decided to increase it. By 

 means of a system of brow-beating on one hand, 

 and jiersuasion on the other, they actually suc- 

 ceeded in abducting the goslings of other birds 

 until they had gathered a flock of fifteen ; a 

 number entirely without precedent in the writ- 

 er's experience. 



The trouble of the "old lady who lived in the 

 shoe" was caused by the fact that she didn't 

 know what to do with so many. Our geese 

 never betrayed any such tribul.ition. .md while 

 there was some seantness of sjjace beneath the 



sheltering feathers of the mother, the overflow 

 could always collect alongside and receive a 

 share of warmth. All are lieing safely reared, 

 and the excellence of their care is attested by 

 the evident prosperity of the goslings, as shown 

 in the aecompanving picture. 



L. S. C. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST. 



All IntercstUu) Family. — The strange little 

 raccoon dogs from .Japan are happy in their pos- 

 session of a large and interesting family. We 

 had noticed for some time a habit of the mother 

 to hide away under her shelter house where she 

 had been busily engaged digging. W"\\.\\ the ar- 

 rival of the first summer days the bright sun 

 tem))ted forth nine little dogs which are very 

 woolly and ))layful. The appearance of these 

 progeny was a surprise to the kccjiers. These 

 youngsters should be a delight to the children 

 throughout the summer. 



Thr dorilla. — After eoni])letely recovering 

 from a serious illness of the j)ast winter. Dinah, 

 our now famous gorilla, is suffering a relapse 

 of the jiaralysis that so suddenly attacked her. 

 Dr. Blair explains that this condition is brought 

 about by malnutrition of the bones. Since the 

 second attack slie has shown signs of improve- 



