K. Plath—Birds at the New Chicago Zoological Park 291


Rock in company with a herd of Sea Lions and a monster Elephant

Seal.


On the entrance side of the building are four large glass aviaries

—two on each side of the doors. In winter they house such rarities

as Shoebills, of which we have four fine specimens, Saddle-billed Storks,

Brush Turkeys, and Australian Cranes. The Shoebills are probably

the most grotesque of the large wading-birds. Of a uniform ashy-grey

colour, with lighter edges to the wing feathers, they are remarkable

for their huge, wooden shoe-like bills. These are hooked at the tip

and when the beak is opened the expression is very reptilian. Another

strange trait of the birds is the habit of standing motionless for long

periods. Visitors often ask if they are stuffed birds. Most captive

Shoebills require to be hand-fed and ours are no exception—it is said

that in Africa, their native habitat, where they are none too common

—they stand for hours in the shallow ponds waiting for their food

to venture around their feet when it is seized quickly enough. Their

movements in captivity are very deliberate, an excellent example of

slow motion. The Saddle-bills are probably the tallest as well as the

showiest of the Stork family. They stand nearly 5 feet tall and

are black and white in colour, the black with lustrous reflections of

purple and green. Their beaks are nearly or quite a foot long, bright

red with a black band across the middle and with a curious, saddle-like

skin across the base of the top. This is bright yellow as are the stirrup¬

like pendants hanging from the lower mandible. The legs are black

with red joints and feet.


The southern end of the building presents an attractive swamp

scene profusely planted with umbrella grass at the water’s edge and

with rubber trees and pandanus at each end. It is a sunny aviary

and has been a successful enclosure for the graceful shore-birds :

Avocets, Stilts, Plover, Godwits, Lapwings, Ruffs, Rails, etc., as

well as the beautiful Scarlet Ibis, Boatbill, small Herons, Roul-roul,

and Palawan Peacock Pheasant. It is one of the most attractive

of our indoor winter aviaries. In summer these indoor cages are

empty for their tenants are dispersed in outside cages.


The Cranes, which comprise a large flock of Crowned Cranes and

Demoiselles share a large park with various Antelopes. The large



