1390 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



BANDED CURASSOW NESTING IN THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK 

 There is no authentic record of these birds breeding in captivity, prior to this instance. 



Shipping Deer. — We suggest to those in- 

 terested in the purchase of deer, and who fre- 

 quently write the Park about duplicate speci- 

 mens for disposal, that spring is a very bad 

 time for shipments. The bucks are growing 

 their new antlers and being "in velvet" at this 

 time, they are easily injured. It is almost im- 

 possible to crate and ship a buck with velvet 

 antlers without the latter becoming cut or 

 bruised with the consequent loss of much blood. 

 Moreover, the does give birth to fawns dur- 

 ing May and June, which renders their ship- 

 ment practically impossible during those 

 months. If deer are to be shipped in the 

 spring, it should be not later than March. In 

 every way the autumn is the preferable time 

 for shipping. — R. L. D. 



Vtilture Habits. — Playfulness and evident 

 pleasure in human society are traits which one 

 would hardly expect to find in birds of the 

 habits of vultures. Yet many of the New World 

 species possess these characters to a marked de- 

 gree, as has already been noted in the Bulle- 

 tin^ in the case of the California condor. The 

 king vulture is equally well endowed, and but 

 for a single drawback, the friendly demeanor 

 and brilliant coloration of an adult, hand-reared 

 bird, would make it a charming pet. Its dietary 



needs are not difficult to meet, but its unfortu- 

 nate habit of returning a meal, some time after 

 ingestion, if it is sufficiently displeased, is not a 

 recommendation to close companionship. Seri- 

 ously, however, the friendliness of really tame 

 king vultures is most engaging as well as inter- 

 esting, and brings these birds many favors and 

 attentions which otherwise they might not re- 

 ceive. 



Savage Hawks. — Fortunately for our small 

 birds, the American goshawk is less abundant 

 than its fellow-marauders, the sharp-shin and 

 the Cooper hawk, and except on rare occasions, 

 confines its depredations to the northern por- 

 tions of the continent. Cannibalism is not the 

 only trait shared by these three villains, for all 

 are difficult to keep in captivity. They are wild 

 and intractable, characteristics markedh^ differ- 

 ent from those of most hawks in confinement. 

 Moreover, they demand a continual diet of 

 birds, which are not always easily supplied. 



With the goshawk, our experience has been 

 somewhat limited, as the species is seldom to 

 be obtained. In December, 1915, however, we 

 acquired a superb specimen, which had been 

 captured at Watertown, New York. This bird 

 is becoming very steady, and as it does not in- 

 sist that all of its food shall be feathered, may 

 prove to be the happy exception. — L. S. C. 



