Not long after placing the collection in the Elk House, one of the reptiles injured a hind foot, and was seized with symptoms resembling blood-poisoning. The limb swelled considerably, and became entirely useless. Presently this condition affected the other hind limb. The tortoise lost all desire for food, and seemed to suffer some pain. It was unable to move about, except by dragging itself along slowly with its front feet.

Vigorous measures were then adopted. The wound was enlarged, washed with antiseptics, and dressed daily. A week's treatment was followed with very gratifying results. The swelling subsided, the wound was permitted to heal, and the animal recovered its appetite. Among captive animals which have been indisposed, the latter symptom is always regarded as highly favorable. Within two weeks after receiving the injury the reptile had entirely recovered.

Taking into consideration the fact that, with the exception of the largest member of this colony, the giant tortoises in the Zoological Park are comparatively young individuals, there is reason both to hope and believe that some of them will continue to be residents of the Park long after the present human generation has passed away. Even when another century of time has passed, there should remain several members of our tortoise herd, each one considerably younger than their present patriarch is to-day. If they do thus survive in the year 2000, they will represent the birth and development of this institution, and probably will be the only creatures which have lived through from the period when anticipations of great developments and the subsequent realization of the same, one by one, marked the beginning, growth, and final completion of the New York Zoological Park.

TH

HERE has always been a class of people to whom a caged bird, no matter how happy and songful it appears, is a pathetic sight, and the phrase "winged prisoner" is a favorite exclamation indiscriminately applied. While there have undoubtedly been and still are abuses due to ignorance or neglect, birds which appear from their song or activity to be contented and happy really are so, for birds are free from hypocrisy.

Referring only to zoological gardens and parks, it has been usually the custom to keep birds in comparatively small cages, each species by itself, in preference to turning many species into a large indoor cage wherein room to fly and run might mean to them all that the word "palace" when compared to "cell" suggests to a human mind. In the Aquatic Bird-House of the New York Zoological Park the idea of an indoor flying-cage for large birds has received its first practical test, and as the idea was original with the New York Zoological Society, the experiment seems of sufficient importance to be reported upon in detail.

Before discussing advantages and objections, it may be said that the cage has proven an unqualified success, and not only has it equalled, but, in many ways, it has exceeded the expectations which influenced its trial. The cage in the Aquatic Birds' House of the New York Zoological Park measures sixteen by forty feet, and is twenty feet in height. The wire-work consists of chainnetting, of No. 12 wire and 2-inch mesh, set in channel-iron frames. The wire was galvanized to prevent rust, but has been painted dull black to render it as inconspicuous as possible.

The floor of the cage contains a central pool of water, about ten by eighteen feet, fed by a central fountain. The remainder of the floor-space is covered with coarse sand to a depth of two inches.

In lieu of straight, unlovely perches, old cedar logs and trees have been utilized with very satisfactory results. The varioussized branches are adapted to the grasp of birds' feet of all sizes, and their hard, smooth surface is as easily cleaned as metal.

The following are the more important of the objections, real or apparent, which naturally suggest themselves in considering a cage of this character: difficulty in the identification of the birds by visitors; the danger of certain species obtaining food intended for others; the risk of timid species not getting their share of food; the mortality from fights between different species, and the reduced chance of the various birds breeding.

Among the more important of the advantages which have been apparent, and which in fact must accrue to such a radical innovation in the keeping of birds indoors, before it can be considered a success, may be mentioned the following, stated in the order of their importance :

I. The health and contentment of the birds.

II. Economy of room.

III. Economy of labor in cleaning and feeding.

IV. Added interest and pleasure to visitors.

V. Æsthetic effect of diverse forms and colors, and of general activity through mixed association.

The objection regarding difficulty in identification is easily done away with, and, instead of being a permanent drawback, proves to be an important factor in favor of such cages. The confusion naturally arising from the mingling of twenty-five or thirty species of birds in one cage is obviated by small but perfectly diagnostic hand-paintings of the various species, one on each label, together with the common and scientific names and the habitat. It has been noted with much interest that the identification of the birds from the picture-labels suggests itself to visitors, especially young people, as a natural-history puzzle, or game; and the comparison of bird and portrait, and the settling of doubts as to species somewhat resembling each other, affords an amusement in the pursuit of which more knowledge of birds is obtained than would be gained in passing a series of single cages of inactive birds without picture-labels. Groups of children have been noticed again and again spending a half hour around the cage, and declaring to each other they would not leave the building until every bird represented on the labels had been found. The ingenious way which many species have of concealing themselves, by crowding close to the tree-trunks or sleeping beside a fallen log, often taxes a child's powers of observation not a little. Like " Alice's " living chess-men, this is an animated, life-sized puzzle, and the enjoyment to be found in solving it is not confined to children.

Seasonal moults or sexual differences in color often cause a certain bird to appear somewhat unlike the typical specimen represented on the picture-label, and this leads to many appeals to the Assistant Curator and keepers for additional information; and woe to the attendants if a certain species is removed from the cage unless the label is taken down at the same time. It is wonderful how quickly some person, who may look as indifferent as if he hardly knew a crow from a cassowary, will ask for the missing bird. Even with this elaborate labeling, occasionally there are people who will stand directly under the twenty or thirty paintings, point to a glossy ibis, and ask, "Is that an ibex?" But the majority of the visitors, young and old, enjoy identifying the various birds for themselves.

The objection that the necessity of placing so many kinds of food in the cage must result in certain birds getting food not intended for them, is more apparent than real. This, and the fear that the timid species will not obtain their share, is proven to have no serious foundation. As a rule, birds are very sensible beings, and, when suitable food is obtainable, do not touch that foreign to their legitimate diet. As to the second consideration, the birds confined in the large cage have so adjusted their interrelations, that there is perfect reciprocity as regards feeding, bathing, and the other privileges, even between the most vicious egrets and the most defenceless ducks. The deaths which have resulted from fights between different species will be spoken of in detail farther on.

It is true that in a large indoor cage, such as that which forms the subject of these notes, breeding is almost an impossibility, but