30 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
BREEDING BIRDS. 
Results during 1916 in the Bronx Zoological Park, 
New York. 
By Lee S. Crakdall, 
Assistant Curator of Birds. 
Climatic conditions during the spring and 
summer of 1916 were decidedly adverse to the 
successful rearing of birds in captivity, and 
throughout the Eastern states, at least, unsatis- 
factory results have been general. The collections 
in the Zoological Park were not exempt, and a 
rather depressing list of disappointments is no 
more balanced by the few successes. Severe snow 
storms and continuous low temperatures during 
February and March, followed by interminable 
cold rains, were enough to discourage even the 
most persistent of prospective avian parents. 
The devotedness of the male emu to his off- 
spring of 1915, caused him to ignore his mate 
entirely this year, until after the breeding sea- 
son had passed. As the normal laying time ap- 
proached, and the birds gave no indications of 
mating, we realized the situation, and separated 
the too-fond parent from the cumbrous chick. 
Both birds, however, strenuously objected, and 
when the male finally became reconciled to the 
change, there was no hope of breeding. 
The seasonal balance of the cereopsis geese, 
which year after year have bred regularly, was 
disturbed by the inclement weather, so that al- 
most as soon as they were placed in their breed- 
ing quarters, the birds fell into a heavy molt. 
This, of course, precluded all possibiity of nest- 
ing. 
Roseate spoonbills, black-headed ibises and 
snowy egrets, all succeeded in hatching young 
in the Flying Cage heronry, but in each case the 
chicks misteriously disappeared. It is evident 
that we never shall be able to achieve any satis- 
factory degree of success with these birds under 
the present conditions, and we hope that some 
means may be found for providing a breeding 
cage in which a few mated pairs may be segre- 
gated. There is no reason to doubt that we 
should then be able to breed many of the birds 
of this interesting group. 
The necessary alterations of the Wild-Fowl 
Pond, which has now been placed in excellent 
condition, naturally prevented any breeding 
among the waterfowl quartered there. We were 
fortunate, however, in being able to preserve the 
bulk of this collection in excellent condition 
through more than a year of vicissitudes. We 
expect next season to resume our w r ork in the 
propagation of these birds. 
Because of their value as game birds, the 
many species of wild pigeons have received more 
or less attention from propagators. We are 
particularly glad, therefore, to be able to add 
to the list of these birds that have been bred 
in captivity in this country, the picazuro pigeon, 
(Columba picazuroj. This is a fine, large species, 
found in southern South America, and as it is 
indifferent to the cold, it might be introduced with 
success in northern countries. 
Our breeding pair came to us from Brazil in 
January, 1910, and since that time they have 
been kept in one of the runs at the Pheasant 
Aviary, living out of doors throughout the year. 
For six years, they gave no evidence of a desire 
to nest, athough facilities were always provided. 
This spring, however, they appeared to have 
become thoroughly reconciled to captivity, and 
after several futile attempts succeeded in hatch- 
ing and rearing a young bird. They are now 
again engaged in incubation. But one egg has 
been laid in each case, and it is probable that 
this is the normal clutch with this species, as it 
is with most of the larger pigeons. 
A pair of engagingly time red-billed pigeons 
(C. fiavirostris), from Mexico, are nesting-, and, 
like the picazuros, have but a single egg. These 
birds are favourite pets of the Mexicans, and the 
squabs often are taken from the nest and reared 
by hand. Such birds retain their lack of fear, 
even when adult, and if a true pair can be ob- 
tained, will breed freely. 
The mourning doves, that have absorbed a 
good share of our attention, have reared more 
than twenty youngsters. Several of these birds 
killed themselves by dashing about their cages 
when alarmed by an escaped ring-tailed "cat," 
but enough remain to provide a good stock of 
breeders for next year. A pair of adults is now 
at liberty in the Park, the male having been free 
for more than a year. 
In 1914, a pair of laughing gulls hatched two 
young ones in the Flying Cage, and in spite of 
the ever-ready maws of pelicans and herons, 
succeeded in rearing one of them. The follow- 
ing year, two pairs made the attempt, but in 
spite of a hedge of branches which was placed 
around them, all of the young disappeared. Early 
this spring, large stones were arranged to form 
tunnels in which each pair could find seclusion. 
The pile was then surrounded by a circle of heavy 
wire netting, six feet high and eight feet in 
diameter. Numerous small apertures were cut at 
the bottom, large enough to admit the gulls, but 
excluding everything larger. 
The birds did not enter the sanctuary at first, 
although they evidently desired to do so. It 
