NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 147 



wonder, because of the remarkable manner in which it nests 

 and produces its young. Instead of building a small, hol- 

 low nest, and hatching its eggs by the heat of its own body, 

 it pursues the plan of the crocodile ! Choosing an open spot 

 in the forest it builds a huge mound, and as the structure 

 rises, it lays its eggs in the heart of it. Turning its tail to 

 the mound-site, this absurd little bird — no larger than a 

 barnyard hen— scratches about right and left, gathers a big 

 footful of small dead sticks, grass and dirt, and fiercely 

 flings it backward upon the pile. A Brush Turkey in good 

 working order can fling a bunch of jungle debris fully ten 

 feet. Usually the finished mound is about three feet high 

 by ten feet in diameter on the ground, and contains two or 

 three cart-loads of sticks, leaves and grass. The eggs are 

 deposited in a circle, well separated from each other, and 

 each newly hatched bird must scratch out or die. Of course, 

 the eggs are incubated by the heat of the sun and the fer- 

 mentation of the mass. 



THE CRANES. 



At, present the Cranes of the Zoological Park are divided 

 between the Ostrich House and the Aquatic Bird House, and 

 their environs. In summer there are exhibits of these birds 

 in the outdoor yards ad.iacent to each of those buildings. 

 Until the Crane Aviary is erected, we must crave some in- 

 dulgence in respect to the locations of these very interesting 

 birds. 



The Whooping Orane, {Gnts americana) , is the largest, the 

 handsomest and the rarest crane species in America. Its 

 great size and its pure-w^hite plumage — except its primar- 

 ies — render it conspicuous from afar, and its voice will carry 

 half a mile. The elevated tail coverts and caudal feathers 

 of the adult male give the bird a very jaunty appearance. 

 This species is so rare that thus far we have been able in 

 eight years to secure only three specimens. The Whooping 

 Crane nests in summer in the Arctic regions, but in winter 

 it ranges as far south as Mexico. Our specimens of this bird 

 will in summer be found in the large paddock immediately 

 north of the Aquatic Bird House, with the next species. 



The Sandhill Crane, {Gnts mcxicana), is smaller than the 

 preceding species, more common, and is frequently seen in 

 captivity. Its color is slaty-blue. It is found in the south- 



