J. Delacour—American Aviculture



115



tlie old-fashioned wire-netting partitions. Contrary to some expectations,

birds do not bang and hurt themselves against the glass.


There are also many excellent out-of-door aviaries and pens. I

particularly admired a pair of the rare Flightless Cormorants from the

Galapagos Islands, which nested last year. Also the three old

Californian Condors look as fine as ever. It is impossible to mention

here more species, but, on the whole, the collection of birds is very

good and increases continually. I noticed two curious and gorgeous

hybrid Amherst’s X Reeves’ Pheasants, bred and presented by

Mr. Denley. On the wonderful improvements which are being made

to the Washington Zoo we must congratulate its enterprizing, learned,

and genuine director, my friend Dr. W. Mann. The Washington Zoo

is the only one in the U.S.A. which belongs to the Federal Government.

All the others are either the property of cities, or of private societies

helped by municipalities.


During the month that I spent in the East, much of

my time was spent visiting museums, attending meetings, and

also watching wild birds in the field ; therefore, I could only visit

the best zoos, private collections, and bird farms. There are many

more of interest, however. Practically every city possesses one or

several zoos, or at least some bird collection in a public park, and there

are many breeders, mostly of Game-birds, all over the country.


II. The Middle West


My first visit, after leaving New York, was for Toronto. The Zoo of

this pretty Canadian city, ably managed by Dr. Y. A. Campbell is small,

but nicely situated, and includes many animals and birds of interest.

There are large outdoor aviaries, several ponds, and lakes in different

public parks are well stocked with waterfowl, mostly native. There are

only a few small birds. I noticed a Weka Rail and a rare Curassow

(Mitua tomentosa).


The new Detroit Zoo is quite far from the centre of the city ; it

is a large tract of land, and one of the prettiest zoos I have ever seen.

People who have seen the new Vincennes Zoo, in Paris, will have a

fair idea of the Detroit Zoo when I say that it is built on the same

plan, but ten times larger as far the open runs go. The shelters, under



