ZOOLOGICAL 
goats have attained maturity, and apparently 
are thoroughly acclimated and healthy. 
count of the capture of the goats is printed on 
page 680 of this issue: 
* * * 
A Municipal “Zoo.”—The City of Rochester 
has for several years maintained a municipal 
“zoo” with such marked success that they have 
established a new one in the Durand-Eastman 
Park,—a tract of land embracing 500 acres, do- 
nated by a Mr. Durand and George Eastman of 
Kodak fame. The site selected is admirably 
adapted to the maintenance of a varied collec- 
tion. 
An ac- 
Two large, swampy areas will be con- 
verted into artificial lakes for water-fowl and 
aquatic animals. A den for bears has already 
been constructed and three American black bears 
are on exhibition. By far the greater part of 
the collection is composed of hoofed animals, all 
of which have been purchased by C. C. Laney, 
Supt. of Parks, Rochester, from the Zoological 
Park. 
* * * 
Buffalo Jones’ Lioness —‘Buftalo” Jones has 
deposited with the Society the two-year-old East 
African lioness which he captured near Kijaba, 
British East Africa, and the animal was safely 
quartered at the Lion House in the Park, June 
15. To effect her capture, the lioness was 
trailed with dogs and lassoed when she came to 
bay. Some difficulty was encountered in accom- 
plishing this feat, as the lioness displayed great 
bravery in fighting the dogs and men. She took 
refuge in a fissure in the ground from which 
place she was finally dislodged by a cannon fire 
eracker. As she bounded out of the shelter, 
two ropes were cast over her from opposite sides. 
A third rope over the bough of a tree raised her 
from the ground and a pair of tongs, specially 
constructed for the purpose, was then clamped 
upon her nose. In this helpless state she was 
speedily transferred to a sledge and dragged to 
camp. She has an abundance of her fighting 
spirit, which a long, tedious voyage seems not to 
have dampened. 
MOULTING OF THE PTARMIGAN. 
OR many reasons, the ptarmigan is the most 
interesting of American game birds. It is 
associated in mind and fact with bleak moun- 
tains and drifting snow, while its tameness is 
In the early days of the 
gold fever many a famishing prospector blessed 
almost proverbial. 
SOCIETY 
BULLETIN. 67: 
the trusting ptarmigan which he found such 
easy prey toa bit of ice or even a stick. 
however, the birds have learned the error of 
Now, 
their ways, and are far less abundant near the 
habitations of mankind. 
In spite of its confiding manner, this grouse 
does not take kindly to captivity; in fact, it is 
very difficult to keep alive for any length of 
time, particularly through the summer months. 
In the fall of 1909, however, there arrived at 
the Zoological Park, three unusually fine speci- 
mens of the Willow Ptarmigan, (Lagopus lago- 
pus), that are now in faultless condition, as the 
result of great assiduity on the part of their 
keepers. These birds were practically pure 
white at the time of their arrival at the Park. 
It is well known that ptarmigan are extreme- 
ly aberrant in their moulting processes. There 
are certainly three plumages: white in winter, 
chestnut brown more or less barred with black 
in summer, and black barred with light brown 
in the fall. Those individuals which 
farthest north never come nearer summer plum- 
age than the growth of a few brown feathers 
in the upper parts; the most southerly are al- 
ways pure white on the breast and abdomen, 
when in summer dress. 
range 
There are of course all 
sorts of variations in intermediate birds, de- 
pending on the temperature of their habitats. 
The actual process of feather change is very 
much prolonged; the old feathers dropping 
singly, long intervals often intervening, so that 
the entire moult may be prolonged several 
weeks. 
The finest bird in the present lot, a very vig- 
orous male, commenced dropping a few feathers 
from the region of the head and neck about 
March 1, 1910. These were slowly replaced 
by others of a rich chestnut hue. This process 
was steadily continued, but it was nearly May 
1 when the change of plumage seemed to have 
progressed as far as it would in this individual. 
Far more interesting, however, is the case of 
the remaining two birds, a male and a female. 
In these specimens, the first feathers were not 
dropped until about May 15. But instead of 
the rich chestnut of summer, these feathers are 
being gradually replaced by the brown-barred 
black ones of the fall plumage! 
coat has been entirely omitted. 
The summer 
This instance 
is simply another illustration of the disregard 
of the ptarmigan for the seasons, excepting in 
the most general way. Ibwish, (Gr 
