750 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



marshes of this section would furnish splendid 

 feeding grounds for migrating ducks — if it 

 were not for incessant persecution by both men 

 and dogs. For this reason, it is seldom, in- 

 deed, that wild birds spend much time there. 

 The mallard ducks so often seen flying over the 

 Zoological Park are members of the large flock 

 of semi-domesticated birds that inhabits the 

 Wild-Fowl Pond, opposite the Pheasant Aviary. 

 These birds make daily trips to neighboring 

 waters, and it is not remarkable that stragglers 

 from wild flocks should join them at night, on 

 placed in numerous convenient positions about their return to the home lakes. 

 the Park. Juncos with white-throated song Each year, of late, wild wood ducks have 



and fox sparrows search the undergrowth for spent the fall and winter on the Wild-Fowl 

 such seeds as may have escaped their vigilant Pond. These exquisite birds generally arrive in 



jgjf 



AMERICAN WIDGEON, OR BALDPATES: FEMALE. 



eyes on previous rounds. 

 Red - polls, goldfinches 

 and siskins frequent the 

 birches and sweet gums, 

 or even join the sparrows 

 in their ground-hunting. 

 It is an unusual winter 

 when a few hermit 

 thrushes, robins and 

 even catbirds, do not 

 spend the season with 

 us. This year a large 

 flock of purple graekles 

 has remained to swell 

 the ranks of the greedy 

 starlings. 



Fortunately, these species are no longer in 

 imminent danger of extermination by the hand 

 of man. Their only human enemy is the merci- 

 less Italian, who believes that every wild crea- 

 ture, however small, is his rightful prey. Gun 

 licenses and game wardens are the best means 

 for inhibiting this soi - t of slaughter, and each 

 year fewer cases are brought to light. In this 

 warfare for the protection of the wild birds in 

 the northern end of New York City, the Zoo- 

 logical Society has taken a very active part, and 

 many a fine has resulted therefrom. 



It is the protection which the Zoological Park 

 offers to the much harassed wild-fowl that is of 

 the greatest interest and value. 



There is much open water in the northern sec- 

 tion of New York City. The ponds, rivers and 



WILD WOOD DUCKS. 

 Three specimens are shown in the picture 



August or September, 

 and leave late in April. 

 During the past two 

 winters, four handsome 

 little drakes have con- 

 tested for the favor of 

 the single captive duck, 

 and one has remained to 

 keep her company 

 throughout the summer. 

 As might be expect- 

 ed, the most common of 

 our anserine visitors are 

 the black ducks. The 

 coming of fall always 

 brings a number of these birds, but during the 

 winter of 1910-1911 they have been unusually 

 numerous. A flock of about twenty-five has 

 divided its time between Lake Agassiz and the 

 Wild-Fowl Pond, mingling freely with the few 

 captive birds on each body of water. These 



BLACK DUCKS. 



