200



Correspondence , Notes, ete.



and crosses the Red Sea into Arabia, so that the name of “ Cape” Dove, by

which it is generally known in this country, is hardly appropriate. We

cannot call to mind any published record of the breeding in captivity of

CEna capensis.


The fifth volume of the Birds of Africa, by Captain Shelley is now

published and deals with the Orioles, Starlings and Crows. The plates,

especially those illustrating some of the magnificent Glossy-Starlings, are

very fine indeed.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.


THE SUCCESS OF THE BIRD HOUSE IN THE NEW YORK

ZOOLOGICAL PARK.


Sir,— It is almost unnecessary to add further to the one-sided

controversy of what seems to be Wiener et Greene versus the Aviculturists

of the world, but the new aviaries of the London Zoological Gardens having

been so ably'defended, it is only fair to give a hearing to the ‘‘someone

entirely unacquainted with birds” who is chiefly responsible for the

“grotesque New York experiment.” With the quoting of this flattering

sentiment we may dismiss the criticism of Mr. W. T. Greene, as he advances

no original theories, bnt shows only 7 a remarkable aptitude to jump at con¬

clusions,—a characteristic deplorable in a bird student, and certainly absent

in a serious ornithologist. He falls into line with Mr. Wiener as his only 7

follower up to the present date.


The defence of large aviaries in general is so excellently and

thoroughly 7 set forth by Messrs. Pliillipps, Astley, Butler, and Finn, that-

were I to undertake a general discussion on the subject, much would be

repetition. I will therefore avoid uselessly 7 occupying valuable space by

taking as my thesis the success of the new Bird House in the New York

Zoological Park.


The first birds were placed in this house in April 1905, although it

was not thrown open to the public until July. So that now, the Ides of

March see almost the completion of the first y 7 ear of occupancy 7 . During

the planning and construction prophetic “ Wieners and Greenes ” were much

in evidence. Doleful warnings of failure were sounded, ever and anon ;

such breaking away from the tenet of bird-caging presaging naught to

them but evil omens.


Even the most sanguine hopes of the designers have been exceeded,

as can be attested by the thousands of people who day 7 after day 7 throng the

building ; and better still by 7 the condition of the birds themselves, and by

the unprecedented low death rate.


Mr. Wiener speaks truer than he knows when he abuses the New



