290 K. Plaih—Birds at the New Chicago Zoological Park



keep a pleasing colour probably because of their being outdoors in

summer on the formal pool and also because of the generous amount

of shrimp and dried flies in their food. Most of our water fowl are

on this formal pool during the summer months and many others.

American Whistling Swan, Common and Black Swans, Bean, Bernicle,

Canada, White-fronted, and Cereopsis G-eese as well as Mallards and

Pintails live on the 9 acre wild fowl pond the year round. Other

species of wildfowl drop on this pond during the spring and fall. We

except the Cereopsis and Black Swan as our winters are too severe

for them. Among the unusual specimens in the flying-cage out¬

standing is the lone Galapagos Albatross. An Albatross is a rarity

in any zoo and we may pardonably consider it an achievement in

successfully keeping it under conditions so different from its natural

environment. In a wild state the Albatross spends most of its life

in the air, dropping to the water at night to swim about pursuing the

small squids and other forms of marine life on which it feeds, but in

the zoo it waddles about in a ridiculously pompous manner and very

seldom goes in the water. It gets its exercise by flapping its wings

which are very long and narrow. We have had this bird over four

years. It might be well to mention here our Galapagos Penguins :

these, too, have lived with us almost as long as the Albatross, in fact

one did come the same time. These are droll little fellows and very

amusing. We started keeping them in the Aquatic House but their

quarters were unsuitable for year-round confinement, so now we keep

them in the Galapagos Scene in the Reptile House. During the

summer we have a large run for them outdoors which they enjoy

for a few hours in nice weather, but they are always ready for a

plunge and swim in the roomy pool indoors. The Albatross and

the Penguins get both iodine and cod liver oil in their fish. Both

species require to be hand-fed though the Penguins often show greediness

in seizing a fish before it is handed to them.


At the north end of the building is a huge glass cage containing a

rocky background and a large, glass-fronted pool. This is- for Gannets

and Cormorants, and the latter are quite a show at feeding time for

they swim and dive like so many feathered fish. In summer these birds,

together with Gulls and American Pelicans, occupy part of the Seal



