ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



1525 



SEMIPALMATED GEESE 



The reduced webbed formation between the toes indicates an adaptation to terrestrial life. This Goose is 



becoming very rare in Australia; its native habitat. 



Fearing that the fatherly impulse might pass, 

 we removed the nest from the first vestibule 

 to the one of the bird's choice. It evidently 

 accorded with his notion, for he lost no time 

 in taking up his eight weeks' vigil. 



Three eggs, perhaps frosted, later had to be 

 removed, but eventually three beautifully- 

 striped chicks appeared. The third had diffi- 

 culty in extricating itself, and was saved by 

 the efficiency of the keeper. The young birds 

 have grown beyond expectation, and are much 

 brighter and more active than the one of two 

 years ago. Perhaps it is not surprising, for 

 their father is now a model foster mother. 



THE AUSTRALIAN BIRD COLLECTION. 

 By Lee S. Crandall. 



WHEN Ellis S. Joseph arrived from Aus- 

 tralia in November, 1916, with a large 

 assortment of live birds and mammals, 

 we were quite amazed by their diversity. Our 



enthusiasm served as a stimulus, and Mr. Jo- 

 seph was moved to assert that later on he would 

 show us something new and surprising. On July 

 7, 1917, he again reached New York, prepared 

 to make good his promise. 



Two seventy-foot horse cars were required to 

 transport the huge collection from Victoria, B. 

 C, to New York. Cages of all shapes and 

 sizes were piled high, and even a hasty exam- 

 ination revealed many rarities not previously 

 imported. Mammals and reptiles were well 

 represented, but of birds there was a truly 

 amazing display. All were in excellent condi- 

 tion, Mr. Joseph being a much harassed, but 

 uncommonly efficient modern Noah. 



An attempt to describe all of the birds of 

 the collection would involve a review of Aus- 

 tralian ornithology that would strain the capac- 

 ity of the Bulletin. We must confine our- 

 selves to a notice of a few of the more striking 

 species. 



From a zoological viewpoint, the two tawny 

 frogmouths, (^Podargus stric/oides) certainly are. 



