I'ifiO 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY IRLLF.TIN 



The lusting birds gave no evidence of (iiiar- 

 relsomeness. but for safety's sake it was deemed 

 host to remove the remainder of the floek. 

 Suitable quarters for tile umnated birds were 

 found in the shade of the (ioose Aviary, wliieh 

 seems well suited to tlieir needs. To ])roteet 

 tlie breeding pair from the sun, a large tarpau- 

 lin was rigged over the corner of the enclosure 

 which includes the shelter. After some effort. 

 a means was found for providing a steady How 

 of water in their tank, so that a cool batli was 

 always available. These means have appeared 

 perfectly adequate as a safeguard ag:iinst our 

 tropical heat. 



On May J 7, thirty-eight days after the first 

 egg was laid, a tiny youngster, sparsely clul 

 in grayish down, was found in the nest. Two 

 or three days later, a second ap])eared. but it 

 was never strong, and soon succumbed. The 

 older bird was more vigorous, and throve from 

 the first. In the early stages, it strongly re- 

 sembled a young gull, except that it lacked the 

 ability to move about so freely as tiiat preco- 

 cious nestling. It piped vigorously, with a 

 shrill whining voice, but otherwise showed few 

 signs of activity. 



By the middle of June, the scraggly, baby 

 down had been rejilaced by a dense, velvety 

 second coat, and the bare spaces of the face 

 were demarcated. It was now enormously fat 

 and about ten inches in length, but still unable 

 or unwilling to stand upright. It moved from 

 place to place on all fours, shuffling along with 

 surprising speed, propelled by feet and stubby 

 wings. 



By the first of July, the young bird could 

 stand erect. When disturbed, it assumed a curi- 

 ous, crouching attitude, arching its back and 

 neck until the head nearly- touched the ground, 

 and moving it slowly from side to side as it 

 gazed at the intruder. 



All feeding of the young bird is done by 

 regurgitation. At first, this was a quiet and 

 gentle act, the parent, with lowered head, stand- 

 ing over the chick, which thrust its head and 

 beak ujiward as far as possible into the chasm 

 of the old bird's throat. Later, feeding time 

 was the occasion for what seemed a rough and 

 tumble fight. 



There was much rivalry between the parents 

 as to which should be the first to minister to 

 the wants of the chick. The contest opened 

 with a foot race. If one bird could win by 

 sutticient margin, its reward was the privilege 

 of a violent affair with the bulky youngs cer, 

 whicli resulted in tlie emptying of the contents 



of the stomach of the old liird into that of its 

 ofi'sjjring. 



On the otlitr hand, if tlie race ended in a 

 tie, a ludicrous wrestling m;itcli at once ensued. 

 Kach bird entwined its head .iiid neck about 

 that of its mate, pushing and shoving ;ind in- 

 dulging in all sorts of tricks .-iiul sliifts in order 

 to reach its goal, the ga|)ing throat of the chick, 

 which hovered constantly about its struggling 

 parents. It was seldom tliat one bird could 

 outdo the other fairly, but finally one would 

 reach across the others back, and the head of 

 the young bird would instantly disappear from 

 sight ill the throat of the victor. Once the de- 

 feated bird realized what was t.-iking place, it 

 at once ceased its ett'orts. and meekly stood aside 

 until the e.xiiaustion of its mate's supply of 

 jiartly digested fish gave it :iii o])portunity to 

 disgorge likewise. 



About July 20. when the bird was two nionths 

 old, the chick down commenced to be replaced 

 by feathers. The change was quickly com- 

 pleted, and by the first week of .Vugust the 

 young penguin was C(>m|)letely clothed in the 

 immature plumage of its species — a light bluish 

 drab above, and white below. 



In the wild state, young penguins are said 

 never to enter the water until the immature 

 plumage has been attained. Strangely enough, 

 our youngster was observed in the water with 

 his parents, on July 25. when in the middle of 

 his molt, and on the twentv-seveiith he was div- 

 ing freel\\ 



Up to the present (August 20), although 

 fully the equal of his parents in aquatic ability, 

 the young bird has not learned to feed for him- 

 self, but for sustenance is still dependent on his 

 parents. 



THE CROCODILIANS' NURSERY. 



ONE of the most striking groups exhibited 

 in the Reptile House is the batch of small 

 and half grown alligators, crocodiles and 

 turtles, occupying the marine tank, situated at 

 the eastern end of the turtle bank on the main 

 floor. 



These creatures often crawl, to the number 

 of a dozen or more, upon the bench in the centre 

 of the tank, and will lie there, basking, sprawled 

 out over, under and alongside one another, with 

 all outward signs of contentnieiit and comfort. 

 After they have settled down, they will usually 

 remain motionless for hours, some of them in the 

 most grotesque poses and seemingly strained 

 positions, such as widely opened jaws, stifflj' 



