The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-30
A POTENTIALLY OF GEESE.
The Pelicans Finally Prevented From
Pouching Valuable New Crop Eggs.

II the pelioans can be prevented from
eating the rest OF the eggs the wild Arctic
geese In the Central Park m%enagerie will
raise some goslings that will be OF oon-
siderable value to the city. Director Smith
was informed some time ago that this par
ticular kind OF water bird was 30 rare In
these parts that it was worth about $500
a bird. In the big flying cage in the park
there are a gander anda goose Of the ARCTIC
type, and a week ago the goose showed
q desire to raise q family The keeper didn't
expect anything Of that kind to happen In
that particular enclosure, where 30 many
different birds are oonfnedi and 80 some
precious eggs were lost. Besides the Arctic
geese there are Canadian geese, Floridan
and South American pelicans, seagulls,
cranes and pigeons and Philippine ducks.
The cage Is a sort Of bird paradise where
the days are passed In eating and swimming
and the nights in sleeping-and never a
thought Of raising a family.
So Mrs. Goose was without a secure nest
for the first egg, and asNt lay on the pebbles
near the rim Of the poofit attracted the at
tention OF the other inmates. The sandhill
crane looked down at It with suspicion
and then walked of. The gulls and the
DlReOl8 lubpttIco Az Wibh q HOOo a014 u
curiosity, but did not disturb it.
One Of the South American pelioans wad:
died over to where the egg lay on the ground
and eyed 1t for a moment. Down went the
long beak and the egg was lifted from the
pebbles. 1t fell into the hanging, pouch
the market value of Arctic goose eggs, for
1t tapped its wings in token of having
lunched we'll, and looked about for more.
There was another egg the next day
and this time one Of the Florida pelcans
made away with it. The egg eating bird
left a part Of the shell on the ground and
when the keeper came around he saw it
and this set him TO thinking.
(which Of the birds had broken the rule
Of the community by laying? And WHICH
OF the birds stole the eggf' was what he
tried to figure out.
He thought he knew the egg thief when
he saw one Of the pink breasted pelicans
at one of the doors Of the shelter house.
On this door was q white porcelain knob
about two feet from the ground. The
big bird was trying to pull of that knob,
evidently under the impression that 1t was
another eye.
The keeper looked toward the other
pelicans and saw them following Mrs.
Goose about the enclosure as though ex-
pecting something TO happen. 1t wa clear
to the keepers mind that they had Guilt
waited a liking for eggs.
When the director was tolu ABOUT the
matter he instructed Headkeeper Billy
Snyder to prepare a safe place for the goose
to set. The headkeeper Prepared q nest
in one OF the houses and, driving the Arctic
geese inside, left the door open.
There was an egg in the nest the next
day and the goose remained there, while
the gander squatted on the ground near by
shelter, chased the gander away, drove the
goose from the nest and took the egg.
The keeper saw the p%urloiner as IL came
out, looking as happy as a pelican can look,
and he took measures. He liked the door
so that the geese could enter or 60 out,
but the opening Is too small for the big
pelicans. Mother Goose is now nesting
on two eggs. The faithful gsnder takes
his turn on the nest while madame goes
outside for food and swimming exercise.