K. Plath—Birds at the New Chicago Zoological Park 289


one is confronted by a huge panorama in three dimensions forming

the back-wall of the indoor flying-cage which is approximately 100 feet

long. A seascape is cleverly painted there and superimposed on it

are projecting cliffs and rocks which give a remarkably naturalistic

effect. Two or three small rocky islets are in the foreground and the

water extends quite closely to the front of the cage. On this indoor

lagoon we find, during the winter months, a flock of fourteen Black

Swans, four Black-necked Swans, Egyptian Geese, Cereopsis Geese,

Maned Geese, and many varieties of Ducks including Sheldrakes from

Australia and New Zealand, both varieties of Pelicans from America,

also from Africa and Australia. So this pageant of striking bird life

has plenty of motion and colour. Several dead trees overhang the

water and on these as well as on the cliffs we see the stately White

Egret and his smaller more active relatives, the Snowy Heron and

the graceful Louisiana Heron. The dumpy Night Herons, Black-

crowned and Nankeen, majestic Great Blues, all impart an air of

watchful waiting, for these long-legged, long-necked waders are ever

on the look out for food. There is a beautiful pair of the African

Wood Ibis which have colourful beaks of butter yellow and a bright

red patch on the crown. The plumage is diffused with pink and the

feathers of the wings are edged with carmine sub-terminal bars while

the very tips are lace-edged with white. They are much more attractive

than our native Wood Ibis. We also keep some White Storks in this

cage as well as the Woolly-necked Storks, well-named, for the neck

of fuzzy wool is very noticeable ; African Spoonbills and several of

the lovely little Silver Gulls from Australia. One of these latter was

successfully bred last season. We also have several of the larger

Gulls, Herring, California, and Western. The large blue, Grey-headed

Gallinule is usually seen in a small group of others of his kind ; this

is a very handsome species, quite large and mostly blue of light and

dark shades. American Mudhens or Coots are active and graceful,

though of sombre colour. Three species of Flamingos are shown,

the stately African, white with pink wings, beak, and legs, the elegant

American Flamingo whose colour is like precious red coral, and the

smaller, less dainty Chilian Flamingo much like the African in colour*

but with grey legs with the joints and feet pink. Our Flamingos all



