136 



POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



CEREOPSIS GEESE. 



able size, two hickories and 'an oak ; and it contains a pool 

 of water a hundred feet long, and shrubbery in abundance. 



The idea of a very large cage for herons and egrets, is not 

 new, for there are in existence several other flying cages, 

 somewhat smaller than this. The first was erected in the 

 Rotterdam Zoological Garden by its Director, the late Dr. 

 A. Von Bemmelin, whose experiment proved very successful. 

 Others are at London and in Paris Jardin d'Acclimata- 

 tion. 



The Flying Cage is the summer home of a mixed flock of 

 such large and showy water birds as are most inclined to 

 fly about within it, and afford students and the public an 

 opportunity to study their movements and attitudes. Save 

 for such allowances as must be made for accidents and 

 epidemics, this enclosure will contain the following note- 

 worthy species, along with others of less importance : 



The American Flamingo, {Phoenicopterus ruber), is, in 

 appearance, a connecting link between the herons and 

 ducks, resembling the former in the great length of its legs, 

 and the latter in the duck-like bill and webbed feet. "When 

 the plumage of this species is perfect, it is of a beautiful 

 scarlet color throughout, excepting the primaries, which 

 are black. In captivity, the color fades somewhat. This 

 bird is found in the Bahama Islands and Cuba, but in Flor- 

 ida, where once it was fairly numerous, it no longer exists. 



