THE FLYING CAGE, No. 4.
This mammoth bird-cage is one of the wonders of the Zoological Park. It represents an attempt to do for certain large and showy water birds, precisely what has been done for the hoofed animals, the beaver, otter, and other species—give them a section of Nature’s own domain. In this they can fly to and fro, build nests and rear their young in real freedom.
Near the lower end of Bird Valley, as a sort of climax for the Goose Aviary when seen from the north, rises a lofty, web-like structure, in the form of a huge, gothic arch. It is 55 feet in height, 75 feet wide, and 152 feet long. The whole structure consists of a series of steel-pipe arches and purlins, the former eight feet apart, over which wire-netting has been tightly stretched.
The wire-netting seems peculiarly open. It is of the kind known as chain-netting, which offers the least possible obstruction to the eye. This cage is so large that a very respectable block of houses, three stories high and of ample dimensions, could stand within it without touching the wire. It completely encloses three forest trees of very considerable size, two hickories and an oak; and it contains a pool of water a hundred feet long, and shrubbery in abundance.
CEREOPSIS GEESE.
The idea of a very large cage for herons and egrets, is not new, for there are in existence several other flying cages, somewhat smaller than this. The first was erected in the Rotterdam Zoological Garden by its Director, the late Dr. A. Von Bemmelin, whose experiment proved very successful. Others are at London and in Paris Jardin d’Acclimatation.
The Flying Cage is the summer home of a mixed flock of such large and showy water birds as are most inclined to fly about within it, and afford students and the public an opportunity to study their movements and attitudes. Save for such allowances as must be made for accidents and epidemics, this enclosure will contain the following noteworthy species, along with others of less importance:
The American Flamingo, (Phoenicopterns ruber), is, in appearance, a connecting link between the herons and ducks, resembling the former in the great length of its legs, and the latter in the duck-like bill and webbed feet. When the plumage of this species is perfect, it is of a beautiful scarlet color throughout, excepting the primaries, which are black. In captivity, the color fades somewhat. This bird is found in the Bahama Islands and Cuba, but in Florida, where once it was fairly numerous, it no longer exists. Fortunately, this remarkable bird takes kindly to captivity, and the Zoological Park is never without a good-sized flock. Their strange form, showy colors and droll attitudes render them unusually interesting to visitors.
WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL.
With the birds of the above species are shown a few specimens of the European Flamingo, (P. roseus), which is almost white. The only parts which show the characteristic scarlet of this genus, are the wing coverts, which are pale red, or pink.
The Scarlet Ibis, (Guara rubra), is for its size the most showy bird in existence, not even excepting the birds of paradise. Excepting the black primaries, every feather on the adult bird in perfect plumage is of a brilliant Chinese vermilion color, visible in nature for a long distance. The immature birds are mottled and patched with white. This species once came as far north as southern Florida, but now it is found only from Cuba southward. They frequent the mud banks at the various mouths of the Orinoco, and not long since were quite abundant on the coast of British Guiana.
The White-Faced Glossy Ibis, (Plegadis guarauna), is not a rare bird in captivity, and it will doubtless be possible to maintain this species perpetually in the Flying Cage and Aquatic-Bird House.
The Wood Ibis, (Tantalus loculator).—The Park obtains its supply of birds of this species from Florida, where they breed, in very greatly reduced numbers, on the headwaters of the St. Johns. This bird is a very satisfactory member of avian society. Although amply large to lord it over the other birds of the cage, he quarrels with none, but peacefully goes his way, feeling with the point of his beak along the sandy bottom of the pool for something edible, or standing in quiet meditation on the bank. Notwithstanding its common name, this bird is not an ibis, but a true stork. In its black and white plumage it is quite a handsome bird. Although not so fond of using its wings in captivity as are herons and egrets, the Wood Ibis is for many reasons a very welcome tenant.
The White Stork, (Ciconia ciconia), is as large as our wood ibis, which it strongly resembles in form and habits. This bird is literally the household bird of Germany, and its place in the family has now become of more importance than its place in nature. Throughout Holland, Germany, and very nearly the whole of eastern and central Europe, the White Stork is so prized and protected by the people that it has attained a state of semi-domestication. Nesting places are prepared for it, usually near or even upon human habitations, and it enjoys an immunity from molestation quite like that of the adjutant in India.
The Great Blue Heron, (Ardea herodias), is frequently called the “blue crane”; but the latter name is a misnomer. It properly belongs to our sandhill crane (Grus canadensis). Just why so large a number of people should be so persistent in this error is a psychological problem; but the fact remains that people will not say “heron.”
This Great Blue Heron is the largest and most noteworthy bird of our northern marshes. Thanks to the fact that it bears no desirable “plumes,” and its flesh is not edible, it has been permitted to live. When not molested, it becomes quite trustful, and when wading along a shore, fishing for minnows, it affords for the field-glass or the camera a very interesting subject. In summer these birds are quite numerous in the marshes along the Shrewsbury River, between Sandy Hook and Long Branch, and they are an unfailing source of interest to excursionists. It is sincerely to be hoped that the evil eye of “Dame Fashion” will not fall upon this bird, and cause its extermination.
The Great White Heron, (Ardea americana), is taller than the great blue heron, and it is the largest of all the white herons and egrets. Like the whooping crane, it is now a bird of such exceeding rarity that the procuring of a specimen may be counted a stroke of good fortune. In eight years the Zoological Park has secured only three specimens, all of which came from southern Florida.
The Little Blue Heron, (Florida caerulea).—The immature birds of this species are snowy white, and so closely resemble snowy herons of the same age, that only one well acquainted with both can distinguish between them. They are, however, separately recognized by the fact that the snowy heron has black legs, and a black bill, whereas the legs and bill of the Little Blue Heron are pale yellow. This species is still common in some parts of its Florida home, and occasionally a specimen strays as far north as Staten Island.
The Louisiana Heron, (Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis), once very numerous in Florida, is still found there, but in greatly reduced numbers. It ranges from Central America and the West Indies northward to the Gulf States, and occasionally to Long Island. The general coloring is dark blue, but a prominent distinguishing character is the chestnut brown on the sides of the neck.
The Black-Crowned Night Heron, (Nycticorax nycticorax naevius), is one of the commonest herons about New York City and occasionally nests in the Park itself. It breeds in large colonies, and feeds chiefly at night. Its note is a hoarse quok, very much like the bark of a dog.
The Snowy Heron, or Snowy Egret, (Egretta candidissima), when fully adult, is the most beautiful white bird in all the avian world. Its form is the embodiment of symmetry and grace, its plumage is immaculate, and the filmy “plumes” on its head and back are like spun glass. Its black legs and bill merely serve to intensify the whiteness of its feathers. The vanity of woman has been the curse of the Snowy Egret. Its plumes are finest during the breeding season, and it was then that the hunters sought them, slaughtering the old birds in the rookeries by thousands (when they were abundant), and leaving the nestlings to die of starvation. If all women could know the price in blood and suffering which is paid for the accursed “aigrettes” of fashion, surely but few could find any pleasure in wearing them. It is strange that civilized woman—the tender-hearted, the philanthropic, and the ever-compassionate—should prove to be the evil genius of the world’s most beautiful birds.
In the United States the Snowy Egret now exists only by accident, and the “plume hunters” are pursuing this and the following species in Central and South America, to their most remote haunts, sometimes even at the risk of their lives. Fashion has decreed that the egrets must go.
BROWN AND WHITE PELICANS.
The American Egret, (Herodias egretta).—Much to the misfortune of this species, it possesses about fifty “aigrette” plumes which droop in graceful curves from the middle of its back far beyond the tail and wing tips. For these beautiful feathers this bird has been pursued by plume hunters almost to the point of total extermination in the United States.
The White Pelican, (Pelecanus erythrorhynchus), is one of the largest birds of North America and by reason of its size, its pure white plumage, its enormously long amber-colored bill and gular pouch, it is one of the most showy birds in the aviary. As consumers of fish they stand pre-eminent among birds, and their only rivals in the Park are the sea-lions. The specimens exhibited were collected for the Society in southern Texas.
The Brown Pelican, (Pelecanus occidentalis), when adult, is a handsome and showy bird, and one which not only is easily reconciled to life in a comfortable aviary, but positively enjoys it. The specimens in our collection were collected for the Society on Pelican Island, Florida, and their interesting home life at that place may be studied from the series of photographs on exhibition in the Aquatic Bird House. When their daily allowance of fish appears they crowd around their keeper, and with wide-open pouches earnestly solicit contributions.