TOPICS OF THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1331, 8 January 1912, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE ZOO.

PAST AND NOW, AND rUTC'RE AIMS AND HOPES. . (By the Rev. .1. Crowes, President of the Wellington Zoological Society.] : The Help of a Great Society, A few weeks ago 1 asked Mr. ridge if lie would get, for my .society, a list of duplicate animals lor sale in the London. "Zoo," and try lo ascertain for me whether the Zoological tfneioty of London would bo willing to negotiate with the Wellington Zoological Society fov exchanges of animals. Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, M.A., U.Sc, LL.IX. F.R.S., tlio secretary of the. Society of London, has promptly replied, asking Mr. Langrid,:a to • toll mo that he will be very girl if the London Society can arrang,; with (he Wellington Zoological Society for exchanges of animals; and that. if.wo can arrango lo let him have a list of the animals w? want lo have from any part of tlio world, he will bo most ready to be on the. look-out for them, and offer them' to us, as his society can get them for exchange. Tlio doctor has suggested the class of animals which we should offer, and the way is now clear for communication between the two societies. A Favourite Bird. When in June, 1911, their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, with their Royal Highnesses tho Prince of Wales, and Princess Mary, visited tho London' "Zoo," tho animal that seemed lo bo tho favourite of the Royal party was a penguin. For generations tho Royal family of England have been great admirers of animals, and havo taken an interest in zoology and' zoological gardens. Our King and Queen know an interesting animal when they seo it, and the penguin is one- of the most interesting animals in tho world, Wo havo not a king penguin in our "Zoo," and consequently cannot say that we. havo a representative of tho largest of the penguins, but we have two small blue penguins which are interesting as representatives of the smallest, and within the last few days a crested penguin has been added.

Recent Additions. A few months ago I was allowed lo publish a list of animals for which accommodation could be provided at little cost, and some of which were wanted to be mates for animals already in tho "Zoo." That the renders of Tin: Dominion may seo how far and how nearly along the lino I suggested, tho "Zoo" has, since progressed; I will give a list of most of tho animals born in the "Zoo" in the interval, and a list of the animals from outside, which have been placed in the "Zoo" in the same time. There havo been born; One I liar, six ferrets, one 'white swan, six paradiso ducks, one Muscovy duck, three CaltI'orninn quail, several ' canaries, including two interesting cinnamon, several Java sparrows, among which is ono of beautiful colour, two seagulls, several silver-bill finches, some zebra finches, and mallard which may be couuted by the dozen. • In tho same time there havo been added from outside one leopard, one donkey, one sea-lion, one-bear, one vervet monkey, two ringtailed lemurs, ' one Persian cat, one bridled wallaby, two tortoises, one bluetongue lizard, ono emu, one pair of laughing kingfishers or jackasses, one crested penguin, one slender-billed cockatoo, ono coot, several parrakeets, several finches, and a pair of Chiuese tits or acrobats, so called from the manner in which they swing thenisolvos round their perches-, flinging themselves through the air, nnd find their feet when they acrobatically touch a twig.

Visitors to the ''Zoo." Although the weather this holiday season has been very precarious, many hundreds' of people havo visited the "Zoo." In one hour, men and ynuug men, having their sweethearts .with them,, stood under'dripping umbrellas- while, looking at tho leopard, or watching the feeding of tho sea-lions. A few hours afterwards Indies having bright sunshades np stood facing the pheasar.try or admiring the beautiful water-fowl on the pond, or watching the antics .of the monkeys in their airy open pens. In all sorts of weather the popularity of the "Zoo" was demonstrated. .' •.....-. The New Arrivals. Numerous are the inquiries about the collection of animals recently brought from Australia. I am pleased to be able to say that they arc all in splendid condition, and that Mr. Limgridge has been deservedly congratulated on the good selection ho made and liis success in getting tho animals into such good show condition in so short a time. A Hint Worth Considering, ' Looking through a book recently ieceived from England, I noticed that in the Loudon "Zoo" the lion Sultan wis presented by her late Majesty Que.'.! Victoria; that tho lion Duke was j-.ic-sented by two famous explorers, Cordon and Sharpe; that, tho largest number of people over drawn to the London "Zoo" in anv one'year was when'the collection hi ought from India by our late King, ■when he was Prince of 'Wales, was exhibited there; that the next tc tho binbest number look place in 1900;' Y),en H.M. King Kdwurd VJlth's collection was exhibited; that this year large crowds have been drawn, by the collection of wild animals brought together in honour of King George's Coronation; thai a little while ago when the female mountain zebra' died in tho Louden "Zoo" and tho rumour that members of that species had becomo so few that in all probability u mate for the remaining male would never bo secured.

His Majesty King George fortunately secured a mountain zebra, mare, and foal in his African ' collection; and I have noticed recently in a review that Theodpre Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States, when he was going .with his sou to tour Africa, and do some big game shooting, intimated to tho learned societies of America that lie was not going to shoot rare and valuable animals for the mere sport of shooting thorn; but that he wished ono of the societies to send an expert or two with him to secure tho skins of animals that might l-o thot, euro them, and take them to enrich the museums of the United Stales.

Now. wo have in two museums, and, although we sent hundreds of mqnnted riflemen out to Africa, and later our Minister of Education visited that homo of lions, our Dominion Museum and our Municipal Museum have (in the male division of tho lion class) ono lion's skin between them, and that a damaged one. M'e have a "Zoo" of which lam proud, for the quality of the "Zoo" is excellent, for such a young institution, but, while wo have a magnificent male lion belonging to the city, there is' but ono lioness in the "Zoo," and that a borrowed one.

The moral is that while in our "Zoo" and our museums wo have much of which wo are proud,' there is in our zoological institutions great room for improvement; mid that while n few of our public moil have mado splendid contributions to these educational institutions, and Wellington city lias cheerfully contributed from its rates towards the maintenance of them, the people of Now Zealand are not yet up to tho average of the people of the great modern States of the world in promoting zoological studies, and thoro are glorious opportunities'.for men who have money lo honour Uinm-. selves and benefit iho community by helping to furnish our "Zeo" and our museums. About the Lions, Many peoplo arc asking whether wo' nro likely lo see some young lions in the "Zoo" soon. That question ought lo be decisively answered ,within Hie next three or four months. I am inclined, however, lo bclicvo that wo are not likely to see any young lions in tho "Zoo" boforo some patriotic Irishman, who would like to be (he connecting link between the land of his birth and the home in which he has made his money, nr won his fame, presents a two or il'Tie-.ya'ir-old lioness from tho far-famed r>v,Min "Zoo." I am not an Irishman, but I always say: "For lions (o breed from, and for lion-hearted men, try Ireland." The Open-air Treatment. . Sinco I wroto about Hie importance of keeping lions, monkeys, and several kinds of birds in houses, (ions, or cages so constructed that while they gave the animals a chance to shelter themselves from prevailing winds, they, should bo open to

the fresh air night and day, and sagRested that human.beings should take a lesson from tho homes and healthiness' of the animals in our "Zuo." There has been some talk about the open-ail- treatment, and, a few days ago, a reverend gentleman laughingly asked how the open-air treatment was answering. My answer; to 'my reverend friend and many others is: There are live or six hundred, animals, in the "Zoo" of all ..sizes, from a while mouse lo'a camel, and from an ostrich to a young quail, and, although tho prosenl'season has thus far been tho worst I have known in Wellington, tho splendid condition' of all (he animals is a glorious testimony to the excellence of the climate of Wellington, and the suitability of our "Zo.o" conditions.

And, further, in corroboration of my view, I add that lately 1 have rend a book written by W., V.. Dando, F.Z.S., and lent lo nie by Mr. Laugridgo. Mr. Damlo tells that, up 10-1815. it, was thought that in the variable climate of England'artificial lieat was essential for lions and tigers, and many< other of the animals in "the London "Zoo," and that open-air cages meant death' to the tropica.! animals; but that then the mortality of the large l'elida averaged- one a. ■ •• month. In lSlfi cages were built for tlio .' free exposure of lions, tigers, etc., to the open air, with no artificial heat whatever, and, during tho year after, the re- , moral of the animals from their small, : stuffy cages in equally stuffy buildings lo their now open homes,.thcro, was not a. single death. • ..' ' ~'• " Animals which had been emaciated and sickly soon gained flesh. Some which had had very, delicate appetites soon began ' to eat healthily, and one tigcress was so affected by tho change that, being dissatisfied with her ordinary ration, that she started butchering . on, her, own. ac-;.;,.;, count, and eked out her regulation sup-, per by rising early, killing a tiger, and eating a good part of him before her breakfast proper was supplied. Of courser' thero aro exceptions lo nil rules, and, i.. the open-air treatment must not bo an- ' plied to all animals indiscriminately. In this connection, it. is' satisfactory to knw' ' that the council has in charge of its "Zoo" a thoroughly practical man, who has always been fond of animals, and , who keeps his reading along his favourite lino well up to tho latest date. What is the "Zoo" Composed Of? Nothing is more common at the "Zoo" " than to hear visitors from places outside Wellington, and man? even of Welling.: ■- ton citizens, exclaim: "I, had .never ' imagined that we had in New Zealand'" a 'Zoo' anything like this!" Generally, tho Wellington newspapers, and several • papers published outside, havo given •■ prominence to the "Zoo" in letterpress and picture. But thousands of the people of Wellington, and lens of thousands of people in other parts of the Dominion), do -not yet know, whati our- ( "Zuo" means.'. -I jvill;, ~ jrist '■"! mem inn a few of its more 'prominent* features. i I have already mentioned tho penguins. There are also two lions. I contend that the head of the malo for grandeur of iMssivencss, with beauty of expression, is not equalled by that of any other lion in ■ Captivity. If there is a better, will travel- • lers tell us where? There aro also a dromedary or camel, a leopard, twbdingos, more than a dozen monkeys (voung, • old, and middle-aged macaque, rhesus, nnd verve!), a Malayan sun-bear, two sea- • lions, or hair seals, wallabies or kauga- ' roos (naturalists aro discussing which),; phalangers, .lemurs, and marmosets. There aro deer of several varieties, showing ' horns of different shapes; then thero is a • fine collection of birds, from the ostrich, the largest of living birds, to a young ; - quail, just out from its, shell,' which I should think must bo tho smallest bird that runs; thero arc somo of the most.' beautiful .birds in the world, and thcro is certainly the most interesting of all birds; there are birds which wade, birds which waddle, ducks which quack, ducks which whistle, ducks which squat, and ducks which perch; there aro birds which sing; birds which whistle, birds which talk, one bird which will dance to a whist|a or jciss you when you ask; birds which - walk, birds which run, birds which hop; there-arc birds which burrow, birds which weave, and birds which, in an indescribably ingenious manner, form and line.' their nests; there arofbtfds which Sfly in I •the air, and birds which fly under water— i in fad, there, are in tho "Zoo" in Xe.w- •' jlown Park, some of tho most wonderful' and interesting birds/beasts, and reptiles, undor the sun. Thousands of pcoplo have seen,, admired, and wondered at them. : lens of thousands more should go te seo them.; School teachers and' schools" should all, ns a few of'them do, take a .deep interest in the "Zoo." II; is full of lessons in their most interesting forms. Flaming Beauty'. Although Iho season has been so excep. tioually rough the 'weaver' birds 'in tho Zod are in plumage worth going a. distance to see. The Madagascar weaver is boautiful, tho testers are splendid,, and Ihfl two malo orange weavors.aro ailama with colour—l uover havo teen their equals.-, ' , ~ ~• '.' v , . ; .... .■■;. •;;;■■,■ > />;