J. B. Housden—Visit to Neio York Zoological Park 135


Gardens in London). He was most courteous, and showed us all his

magnificent collection of birds. We spent some hours in this house.


The large bird house is an L-shaped building, with an all-glass house

in its angle. The main hall extends east and west, and is 60 feet

long by 50 feet wide. This great room contains the foreign song-birds,

many tropical Doves and Pigeons, several kinds of rare Fruit Pigeons

(one pair most lovely birds, marked Lilac-shouldered Fruit Pigeon ; and

some beautiful New Guinea Pittas); also, Great Crowned Pigeons,

Tinamous, Toucans, Hornbills, and Giant Kingfishers. In the great

central flying cage is a remarkable gathering of small tropical birds—-

swimmers, waders, game, and perching birds.


The flying cage in the centre of the main hall contains a pool of

running water, some small trees, rocks, and sand. Hopping and flying

about, and perching on the trees is a remarkable medley of birds.

There are Wood and Mandarin Ducks, Black Skimmers, Terns, several

species of Teal, Curlews, Gallinules, Coots, Lapwings, Snipe, Ruffs,

Quail, many kind of Pigeon and Doves, Orioles, Cardinals, Wood¬

peckers, various kinds of Weavers, and Sparrows.


The south side of the main hall is devoted to various large rare birds

from the tropics, all in large cages.


On the northern side is a very interesting group of birds from Cuba

and the Bahamas, a good collection of Weavers, Finches, Trogons, and

others. Here also are rare and beautifully plumed Birds of Paradise

(Count Raggi), and the Blue Bird of Paradise, Prince Rudolf, and the

Greater Bird of Paradise.


In the “ Official Guide ” we read : “ In the glass court and around

it, the Curator of Birds, Mr. C. William Beebe, has scored a gratifying

success in the installation of the order Passeres. The birds are

arranged by families, and all of the twenty-one families of Eastern

North American perching birds are represented. These families are

Waxwings, Shrikes, Flycatchers, Wrens, Mocking Birds, Catbirds,

Thrushes, Ringlets, Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, Warblers, Pipits,

Larks, Tanagers, Orioles, Crows, Jays, and others.” A very fine

collection and well arranged.


A large circular flying cage, at the outer corner of the glass court,

is filled with Robins, Bluebirds, Thrushes (various), and Woodpeckers.



