NOTES AND QUERIES. 349 



detect the white moths that flutter aimlessly amongst the under- 

 growth, like pieces of delicately-cut muslin falling from a dress- 

 maker's table. The Red Underwing is also a favourite food. 

 On a clear and calm night their "churrings" are loud and 

 frequent. But when a night-wind is sifting through the trees, 

 and grey-lag clouds darken the summer night, the Nightjars 

 seem discomforted : they sit close, hugging the rotten boughs for 

 very comfort, and the purring " churr" is seldom uttered. During 

 the first week in September these birds will leave, not to re- 

 appear till the middle of next May. 

 Meanwhile the year passes. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Acreage of the principal Zoological Gardens. — 



Most of the large cities of Europe maintain Zoological Gardens, many 

 of which are magnificent in appointment and rich in collections, but all, 

 without exception, are confined to comparatively small areas, and some are 

 much cramped for room. 



In Europe. — London, 36 acres : Dublin (?); Bristol, 15 acres; Paris, 

 10 acres; Amsterdam, 25 acres; The Hague, 20 acres; Antwerp, 20 

 acres ; Berlin, G3 acres ; Cologne (?) ; Dresden (?) ; Hanover, 10 acres ; 

 Frankfort, 25 acres; Breslau (?); Vienna, 30 acres; St. Petersburg (?). 



In America. — Philadelphia, 33 acres; Washington, 106 acres; Cincin- 

 nati, 36 acres. The Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Buffalo, and San 

 Francisco gardens are in public parks. 



In the East Indies. — Bombay, Madras, Singapore, Hong Kong. 



The New York Zoological Society (incorporated by the Legislature in 

 1895) is taking steps to carry out a scheme for the formation of a large 

 zoological park of not less than 300 acres in extent, the chief feature of 

 which will be to reproduce natural conditions. The choice of locality lies 

 between one of the four larger parks situated north of the Harlem River, 

 viz. Crotona, Van Cortlandt, Pelham, and Bronx. It is proposed that the 

 larger northern animals shall be shown " in free range," the tropical animals 

 in suitable buildings and enclosures; the marine animals on the shore-line 

 by means of tidal ponds. An influential committee has been formed for 

 the purpose of considering and, if possible, carrying out the scheme. 



MAMMALIA. 



Squirrel with dark tail in August. — On August 2nd, while I was 

 admiring the graceful movements of a Squirrel on one of the tall trees in 

 Ashburnhara Park, another of these animals appeared, and as I remained 



