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


Australian Cranes occupy a roomy, grassy tract with Kangaroos and

at time of writing are alternately incubating two buffy-white eggs.

They have selected a site farthest from where the keepers enter the

yard, and yet it is nearest to the public, being on the very edge of

the moat. It is amusing to watch the pair change off. If the female

is on the “ nest ” and the male is espied in the distance slowly coming

toward her she utters many throaty croakings until he is quite close,

then she rises up and there is much bowing and flapping of wings

and trumpet-like calls. She meanders off then and feeds leisurely

and he, after much preening, finally settled down carefully and pro¬

ceeds to the quiet business of “ setting ”.


A very fine Wattled Crane is also a prized member of the rarer

birds ; it is one of the most elegantly formed and pleasingly coloured

varieties. A slaty cap sets off the snowy-white neck which is bounded

at the back and lower parts with black, this again in contrast to the

pale grey of wings and lower back. The pendant, white-feathered

wattles are very curious. In a wild state it is restricted to South-

West Africa and found only locally there. This bird lives amicably

with the two Secretary Birds and both species keep eternal vigilance

for any small living creature which may trespass in their roomy summer

run. The Secretary Birds are stately birds of prey very much attenuated

as to legs and neck and with quite long tails. They have an interesting

habit of viciously stamping to death any live food they can get. Then

they stand on it and tear it to pieces.


Our collection of Pheasants and other gallinaceous birds while

choice is not very extensive because the aviaries for them are not all

completed. Such fine varieties as the glittering Impeyans, Palawan

Peacock Pheasants, Swinhoe’s, Beeve’s, Elliott’s, Soemmering’s, White-

crested Kaleege, Golden, and Amherst’s, are shown in good-sized runs

fitted at one end with good shelters and cement pools at the other.

There are also plantings for shelter. These runs also accommodate

a fine pair of Brush Turkeys ; the male is incessantly at work scratching

up a huge mound and every so often pursues his mate around, giving

her little rest. The only time they appear to get along at all well

is during the fall and winter months. Two varieties of Chachalaca,

a fine pair of Piping Guans, Bob-whites, Boul-roul, Vulturine, and



