ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



Three pairs of laughing gulls nested in a 

 labyrinth of rocks built around a large stump 

 in the Flying Cage. But in spite of our pre- 

 cautions, the young which eventually appeared 

 vanished witliin tlie maws of various herons 

 and pelicans, wiiich are always on tlie watch 

 for such delicacies. As a last resort, a Iiedge 

 of branches was erected about the rockery, per- 

 mitting the passage of the gulls, but excluding 

 the larger birds. Some of the gulls elected to 

 try again, and the only youngster which so far 

 has appeared, is now nearly half grown. 



Twenty-one Canada geese, about one hundred 

 mallards, nine wood ducks, five madarins and 

 one wiiite-eye, represent the full returns among 

 tlie Anserine birds. Most of the mallards were 

 reared at the Nursery, and will serve to reiiabil- 

 itatc our rather depleted flock. 



The rearing of wood and manadrin has al- 

 ways offered us a problem. Our stock of breed- 

 ing birds of these species was very low this 

 year, and few eggs were laid. But our suc- 

 cess with the ducklings was marked, and ne.xt 

 year we expect to follow the same lines on a 

 larger scale. 



The white-eye, a small diving duck of the 

 Old World, has not previously been reared in 

 tiiis country. It is also the first diver to lie 

 bred in the Zoological Park. 



The annual brood of the cereopsis geese, duly 

 hatched in the Crane's Paddock, was destroyed 

 by a particularly vicious raccoon. The wild rac- 

 coons which abound in the vicinity of tlie Zoo- 

 logical Park are actually a menace to tiie birds 

 of the collection, and in spite of constant trap- 

 ])ing, their yearly toll is considerable. 



Our flock of Canada geese now numbers over 

 seventy, and it will be necessary this fall to 

 dispose of a portion of them. 



Of Gallinaceous birds, we have reared two 

 silver, one swinhoe, three goldens and one white- 

 crested. A pair of California cjuail have three 

 full-grown chicks, and a late brood of eastern 

 bob-whites has just appeared, under the care 

 of a bantam foster-mother. 



We are particularly proud of our mourning 

 doves. This is the only large dove now found 

 in the East, and while its non-flocking habits 

 have thus far saved it from the fate of the pas- 

 senger pigeon, its very size makes certain its 

 final reduction. It is therefore a great satis- 

 faction that we have this season reared eight 

 of these birds, two of them being at full liberty 

 with the pair of turtle doves which hatched 

 them. We now have fourteen breeding birds, 

 which should form the nucleus of a valuable 

 flock. 



A pair of Australian crested doves, in the 

 breeding cages, already have fully reared four 

 lusty squabs, and are engaged in incubating a 

 third jaair of eggs. 



Early in ]\Iarcii, a downy youngster was 

 found drowned in tlie drinking vessel of a large 

 out-door cage occuiiied by a pair of Australian 

 pectoral rails. The weather was of the worst. 

 and we did not dare disturb the parents. Va- 

 rious delicacies were added to their menu, how- 

 ever, and it was not long before we were able 

 to catch fleeting glimjises of a growing chick. 

 This bird is now fully developed, and though 

 extremely shy, is very strong and active. 



Among the Passerine birds, the most inter- 

 esting event was the rearing of a pair of hj'brid 

 wood swallows. The parents are a masked and 

 a white-browed, both natives of Australia. The 

 young birds are not yet in mature plumage, but 

 appear to favor equally each parent. 



Saffron finches have at least three babies flj'- 

 ing about their aviary, and more are expected 

 shortly. 



As this is the first season in which we have 

 made a really serious attempt at breeding, we 

 feel greatly encouraged by the results. Much 

 has been learned by experience, and we shall 

 start next season better prepared for what may 

 come. 



L. S. C. 



TRUMPETERS. 

 By C. William Beebe. 



FAME and notoriety surround man)' birds 

 and animals of the South American jun- 

 gles in respect to excessive or unpleasing 

 character of voice. After recalling the calibre 

 and entinisiasm of tiiese utterances one would 

 be inclined to think that a totally deaf explorer 

 would experience the greatest enjoyment in such 

 regions. Macaws and parrots and steam-whist- 

 ling frogs and the loco chachalacas possess no 

 title to recall their vocal ability, but public feel- 

 ing has forever stamped others with their re- 

 markable success in this field. Among these 

 are howling monkeys, screamers and trumpeters. 

 The veriest tourist can hardly have failed to 

 iiear macaws and howlers, but to know the 

 voice of the trumpeter one must enter deeply 

 into the lowland forest, and face the discom- 

 forts of bete- rouge and the jungle dangers of 

 falling nuts and fronds. Mentally and physic- 

 ally trumpeters are puzzles and tlieir most inti- 



