NEW YORK ZOOLOniCAI, PARK. 133 



The indoor cages along the western side of the Large 

 Bird-House (both halls included), contain an extensive 

 series of tropical Pigeons and Doves, which are well worth 

 some attention. 



The most startling exhibit in this group is the Bleeding- 

 Heart Pigeon, {Phlogoenas luzonica), from the Philippines, 

 whose creamy-white breast seems to have been recently 

 stabbed with a stiletto. It is no wonder that now and then 

 a sympathetic visitor seeks the Curator, or a keeper, and 

 reports that a bird has been injured, and is bleeding from a 

 wound in its breast. 



The Plying Cage in the center of the Main Hall eontainsj 

 a pool of running water, some small trees, an imitation rock. 

 and the floor is covered with a comfortable layer of sand. 

 Hopping or flying about, and perching on the trees, is a 

 really remarkable medley of birds. There is the Wood Duck 

 and Mandarin Duck, Black Skimmers, Common and Sooty 

 Terns, several species of Teal, Curlews, Gallinules, Coots, 

 Lapwings, Snipe, Euffs, Quail, Francolins, Senegal, Turtle, 

 Wonga-wonga and other Pigeons and Doves, Skylarks, 

 Robins, Orioles, Cardinals, "Woodpeckers, Java, Fox, Tree, 

 and other Sparrows and Weavers. Notwithstanding the 

 mixture of species, they all live together in the utmost 

 harmony, and beyond ail question they greatly enjoy each 

 other's company. 



The south side of the Main Hall is devoted to miscella- 

 neous rare birds from the tropics, regardless of the Orders to 

 which they belong. The largest are the Great Crowned 

 Pigeons, — Victoria and Common, — the oddest are the Con- 

 eave-Casqued Hornbills and the Toucans (four species). 

 The Rufous Tinamou, of South America, is a species which, 

 through lack of use for its wings, is rapidly losing the 

 power of flight. The Giant Kingfisher is the "Laughing 

 Jackass" of Australia, and its cry is strangely like the 

 mirthless horse-laugh of a man who has few smiles and 

 seldom uses one. The Himalayan Jay-Thrush is so con- 

 firmed a murderer of birds smaller than himself, it is neces- 

 sary to quarter that species with other birds abundantly 

 able to defend themselves against its attacks. 



On the northern side of the Main Hall there will be found 

 a very interesting group of Cuban birds, another of birds of 

 the Bahamas, a fair-sized collection of Finches, Weavers, 

 Canaries, Trogons, and other small species of foreign lands. 



The visitor is reminded that for all cages that contain 



