ZOOLOGICAL 
wild birds in such a way as to give protection 
throughout the year to 46 genera (including in 
each case all species). The effect is to protect 
practically all the native birds of Natal. The 
old Act included only six species.—London 
Times. 
MR. DITMARS’ “REPTILES OF 
WORLD.” 
The appearance of such a work as “The Rep- 
tiles of the World,’ by Raymond L. Ditmars, 
Curator of Reptiles in the Zoological Park, may 
fairly be regarded as a noteworthy event. Its 
chief interest is found in the fact that the effort 
covers a new field, and is adapted to the wants 
of the millions rather than to those of the scien- 
tific few. 
It is a stately octave volume, admirable in 
typography, and very satisfactorily illustrated. 
It is not an illustrated catalogue of genera and 
species, but a book that is ‘readable,’ from be- 
ginning to end. It treats of the reptiles of the 
world, quite as comprehensively as could reason- 
ably be expected in one volume of practicable 
size; and it affords the reader an excellent gen- 
eral view of the little-known world of turtles 
and tortoises, crocodilians, lizards and serpents. 
So far as we are aware, this is the first popular- 
scientific work ever published on the reptiles of 
the world; and in saying this we take due note 
of the existence of sections on reptiles in the 
natural histories, and also of Dr. Gadow’s sci- 
entific treatise. 
Naturally, it will be to the members of the 
Zoological Society some cause for satisfaction 
that this valuable contribution to zoology has 
emanated from the Zoological Park, and con- 
tains scores of fine illustrations reproduced 
photographically from Park specimens. The 
volume is published by the Sturgis and Walton 
Company, of New York; it contains 373 pages, 
and nearly 200 illustrations of representative 
species. The author sets forth only those spe- 
cies that best represent the important genera, 
and has wisely refrained from attempting to 
handle a great number of forms. Went aEr. 
THE 
THE LESSER VASA PARROT. 
Pronounced black is the last color one would 
expect to find among the members of the Parrot 
Family, and it really is very uncommon. Its 
occurrence is best known among the nine species 
SOCIETY 
BULLETIN. 691 
of splendid black cockatoos of Australia, one of 
which, the Banksian, is represented by a very 
fine specimen in the collection of the Zoological 
Society. The highest quality of iridescent black 
is found among a few species of the Loriidae or 
Lories, but among the true parrots of the Fam- 
ily Psittacidae, this color is rare, and is confined 
to six species, five of which are members of the 
genus Coracopsis, the Vasa Parrots, inhabiting 
Madagasear and the small neighboring islands. 
These birds have been brought into the United 
States on very infrequent occasions, and the few 
arrivals have generally been the Greater Vasa, 
(C. vaza). 
The Lesser Vasa Parrot, (C. nigra), is found 
solely in Madagascar, also the home of the 
Greater. The individual of the former species 
which recently has been added to the Zoological 
Society's collection, is of an ashy-black color, 
slightly inclining to rusty on the head. The 
bill is somewhat lighter in tone than the body, 
forming a striking contrast to the sombre plum- 
age. 
Although closely related to the gray parrots, 
which are unquestionably the finest talkers of 
the entire group, the Vasas do not appear ever 
to acquire any great degree of linguistic ability. 
Consequently they are not popular as pets, even 
in Europe, having the added drawbacks of rarity 
and funereal coloration on the wrong side of de- 
sirability. They are, however, very quiet and 
docile, seldom giving way to the violent spasms 
of rage which too often mar the pleasures of 
parrot keeping. Ibe Sb ‘Ce 
ANNOUNCEMENT. 
Dr. C. H. Townsend, Director of the New 
York Aquarium, has been appointed Acting Di- 
rector of the American Museum of Natural His- 
tory until December 15, 1910; Director H. C. 
Bumpus having been granted leave of absence 
until that time. Dr. Raymond C. Osburn, of 
Columbia University, has been appointed As- 
sistant Director, to take charge of the Aquarium 
under the general supervision of Dr. Townsend. 
All those interested in the work of the Society 
in the Zoological Park, or Aquarium, are cor- 
dially invited to become members. Information 
concerning membership may be obtained at the 
office of the Society, 11 Wall Street, at the Zoo- 
logical Park or the Aquarium. 
