202



Correspondence , Notes, etc.



Mr. Wiener criticises my figures as to the total number of species of

Parrots. Sharpe’s “Hand-list of Birds,” Vol. II., gives about 575. If 425

additional species have been named since then, I stand corrected.


As regards the many groups to be housed in our new bird house

which Mr. Wiener quotes from my paper, and which on account of their

number afford him opportunity' for sarcastic comment, let me remind him

that we are a very' young Zoological Park as yet,—a child of six short years

as compared with the octogenarian Zoo in Regent’s Park, and our bird

buildings number as yet only four. All told, we have not more than 1,600

or 1,700 specimens in the collection, which, however, are in perfect health.

So closely' did we gauge the groups which would here find housing, that

every group quoted from my' paper by' Mr. Wiener on page 104 of the

January Avicultural DFagazine is now represented by' from one to one-

hundred-and-fifty individuals, with the sole exception of the Bower-birds

and Sand-grouse, of which we have not as yet been able to secure specimens.

With the 900 birds in the building, there are at present no less than seven¬

teen cages which are unoccupied.


Seven partitions have been removed from cages in various parts of

the building, thus throwing two or three cages together, and further attest¬

ing the value of flight cages of moderate size. In fact, these have proved

successful in every way'. With all the constant moving about of birds,

and the frequent disturbances incident upon the first year in a new build¬

ing, a number of birds have nested and raised young,—doves, pigeons,

parrakeets and finches, — and the numerous eggs dropped upon the sand by-

birds not yet provided with nests, give hope that even in the matter of

breeding Mr. Wiener is mistaken.


That gentleman can hardly' have seen parrots in a wild state if lie says

they' seldom fly' for the pure love of flying. My lasting impression of

Macaws, Parrots and Parrakeets in Mexico, is of birds constantly on

the wing, making high, overhead, direct flights, or swinging in large flocks

around and across a barranca for an hour or more.


The complete success of our great outdoor flying cage for waders and

swimmers, measuring 75 ft. by':50 ft. by 55 ft. in height, prepared us for a

similar result in large aviaries, protected by' a roof of glass, which is pro¬

vided with such generous ventilation that in summer the tenants have all

the advantages of an out-of-doors home.


As regards the difficulty of identification, 1 have found that most of

the American public possess a large share of that curiosity which is so

pronounced a characteristic of many of our more humble brethren of the

earth. I have often seen people pass rapidly by' several cages, each of

which contained a single species, giving but a glance at the label. But

in the case of the great central cage of the new bird house, where some 150

birds live happily together, running in and out of the minature millet

fields, and flying around the Norfolk and cabbage palms and cinnamon



