NEWS BULLETIN OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



SANDHILL CRANE. 



THE SANDHILL CRANE. 



One of the most interesting of avian collec- 

 tions is a good series of Cranes. Not long 

 since, the Zoological Gardens at Amsterdam 

 contained every known species, and so much 

 importance was attached to this fact that a 

 fine monograph of the group was based chiefly 

 upon that collection. 



To all appearances the Crane seems to be 

 essentially a bird of civilization, and readily 

 becomes accustomed to captivity. This is due 

 not merely to a certain liking for the society of 

 man, but to the fact that the bird is fond of 

 admiration and attention. 



Two fine specimens of the Sandhill Crane 

 have recently been acquired by the Park from 

 Northern Minnesota, and have taken up their 

 abode in the Caribou Range. Here they have 

 settled down to their new life in the most 

 charming manner. 



Workmen carting soil to and fro in the en- 

 closure are apparently under their direct super- 

 vision. Occasionally they can be seen walking 

 around the horses and men, gravely inspecting 



each operation, and at times they become so 

 deeply interested that it is difficult to raise or 

 lower a shovel without first securing the con- 

 sent of a Crane. Despite their Quakerish garb, 

 they present a graceful and even stately ap- 

 pearance, and for them and their kind the So- 

 ciety soon will provide a spacious permanent 

 installation. 



THE NURSERY. 



The numerous demands of a zoological park 

 can be met only by varied and generous sources 

 of supply. In solving some of the problems 

 of Zoological Park management, the magic of 

 a skillful gardener has wrought upon Mother 

 Nature with very gratifying results, and pro- 

 duced an establishment of great value to the 

 Zoological Society. 



Hidden away in the extreme northeastern 

 corner of the Park, invisible from the Boston 

 Road, and detected only by the visitor who 

 leaves the beaten paths and breaks through the 

 tangled surroundings, lies an important ad- 

 junct to the Park, known as " The Nursery." 



A trifle over two years ago, like some other 

 portions of the Park, it consisted of a wilder- 

 ness of underbrush and neglected farm land. 

 Its furrowed surface was covered with the 

 weeds of all nations. But even in this remote 

 corner has the energy of the Society wrought 

 a change, which even in its infancy is deserving 

 of mention. Rows upon rows of vigorous 

 young trees, shrubs, and perennial plants now 

 grow where once the wild-carrot held tangled 

 sway. 



Here, for example, are a few thousand young 

 oaks, saved at a tender growing age from the 

 contractor's plow. When pulled up from 

 where the walks now are, they were about a 

 foot high, and two trips of a hand-cart .trans- 

 planted the lot ; but clean cultivation and 

 well-balanced fertilizers have developed them, 

 and now the smallest are four feet high. Then 

 there are willows, great bushes ten feet high, 

 that recently were cuttings. There are also 

 fine lots of cottonwood, black haw, bridal- 

 wreath, elderberry, bittersweet, honeysuckle, 

 and others too numerous to mention. 



But no longer are the rows unbroken. Great 

 gaps, and many a missing row, tell of thousands 



