LIFE AT THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 5

LIFE AT THE ZOO.

NATURAL NOTES ABOUT NATURE.

GOOD MOTHERS.

the lions and the monkeys,

(By John Crewcs, President of the We] lington Zoological Society.)

"I do enjoy reading your notes ill 'J he Dominion", Mr. Ciwes," exclaimed a sorely-tried, careworn fellow-citizen, as he came up, smiling, in one of the streets of Wellington a few weeks ago. then, if I can send gleams of sunshine into hearts liko yours, I must, I thought, write 111020 simple, natural notes. I see and feel that because my notes are simply natural notes about Ivature, they are touching hearts, striking notes of kindness, and reciprocally bringing to me what they are producing in others, sweet, sympathetic music. Winter Marvclsl My notes bring to me not! only new acquaintances, but also some old friends whom I had "loved long since and lost awhile." From one of them, no mean scribe himself, recently I received two delectable chapters of Zoo Notes, taken from a Bedfordshire newspaper. One of the chapters was 1 on a visit of the Solborna Society to see Mr. Wingfield's zoological collection at Ampthill. In that chapter it is said: "Headers of Gilbert White's lotters on the 'Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne' will have pleasing recollections of the charming and scholarly way in which lie writes of the weather and the Country where he lived in tho ISth century, and of tho habits of birds, quadrupeds, insects, and trees." And, further, the writer of the chapter remarks: "It has been well said that White of Selborno, who never got beyond a country walk, has by noting down faithfully and lovingly what ho saw day by day, composed a work as amusing as a romance, and as instructive as a school book." To that I heartily subscribe, and when I want rest, mental refreshment, and recreation, I try to do, and I advise my old friends, and my young disciples, to try to do, in Newtown Park, and in tho Thorndon Botanical Gardens, what Gil. Bert White did in tho neighbourhood of Selborne. But is there anything now in those ■ gardens ? Yes! Every day, if wo keep our eyes open, we may see something new. For more than a year. I havo, on good ground, been expecting a few rhododendrons. Some day they will bo brought from Thorndon to Newtown Park. It- will be very interesting to see them brought, see them planted, see them growing, .see them blooming. My_ faith in Mr. Glen reminds me of the recitation the Kev. Hauraki Paul, a Maori minister, who died tho other day, used to delight his hoarers with, the good old refrain of which was ever new; There's a good time oomiug, boys, • Wait a little'loilger. . But while we wait for Mr. Glen and tho .ihododeadrons there are wonders growing in tho Zoological Garden. Gilbert White noticed some very fine weather,' and some remarkable appearances, sometimes when tliey were not expected, but ho never saw two young Budgerigars, commonly called "love-birds,'' hatched in tho ojiea air in the middle of winter, reared in tlio open air, fledged in the open air, and flying about in the open,, within one month of midwinter day. Globe-trotters malign our climate, cyiiical Wellington citizens moan out miserable exaggerations about Wellington winds, but leautiful little grass parrakeets or budgerigars never tell fibs.

Young Monkey Mick and his Brother. Young Miok was a potted babv. He always seemed strong, but he liked to bo in liis mothor's anus. In ffict, he was nearly a year old before his mother weaned him, or allowed him to be out of her embrace for any loiig time. But tis little bMthor, born only a month or two ago, is a very precocious youth. He lmd evidently seen young Mick receiving biscuits, peanuts, fruits, and sweets from visitors; and now he leaves his mother, comes to the front of the cage, puts out his tiny little hand, takes a mit or piece of biscuit, and eats. I have seen many monkeys, but this 'is the str ingest little fellow I have ever seen. His nead is large, his eyes are' bright, and seem full of intellect, and he uses his hands to'pick up things outside his cage. A wonderful little fellow is latest, and another unmistakable testimony to 'tho salubrity of Wellington's climate. Alns! I had no sooner written that then I noticed that poor little Toby has lost one of his hands. Yot tho little hero does not 'trouble, and tho stwnp is healing perfectly. Model Parents. Most motlisrs are affectionate, and many fathers are kind-hearted. But too many of them aro irritable, passionate, fitful, impatient, and at times cruel. In tho Wellington Zoo there aro some model paronts, from which n-any human parents might learn some important lessons. An enormous amount of suffering could be prevented if some human paronts would act as sensibly as some of the Zoo mothers and fathers do. Notice (1) Mary, tha lioness. She is strong, and fiery, and passionate. With a whip in your hand approach her yard, and seo how she sots herself on guard, and what a force of savagery flames up as she iiragines that you aro threitening hor twins. But rotice tho steady strength of endurance, tho majestic control of temper, the beautiful tenderness of treatment which she invariably evinces towards her cubs. Win has ever seen her keep her eyes from watching them? or noticed her inflict oue unfair 6troke of temper on either of them? A Zoo is not the best placo in the world to maintain a perfect temper in. But who has ever seen Mary causo to her frolicsome, and sometimes wayward, young offspring, one unnecessary pang of pain? Yet she has ruled her household firmly, and compelled them to obey her will. Next, notice ijio female kangaroo. Bearing a young kangaroo in the winter is not a very easy pastime. But the faithful mother, during long, cold, stormy, winter days and nights carried her big baby in her warm fur pouch, a'ltTiough ho was strong enough to hop. And after ho left tho pouch, she, whenever tho cold pierced him, allowed him to get back into tho snug quarters in which he long was nursed; and did this when to get back, as he got, seemed- to ordinary observers almost miraculous. Yet, whoever saw that powerful, -worried, overburdened mother ever give the burdensome son which imposed so long on her good nature, one unkind stroke or look? Then, look at Empress, the mother of the two young monkeys I havo mentioned, how kind, how quick, how attentive she always is. Now Arrivals. An Australian barn owl, which closcly .resembles the English barn owl, has recently been placed in tho Zoo, and I have noticed representatives of two or three species of honey birds in tho small birds' aviary,. Tho Wellington Zoological society.' I notice that some persons has been asking, "What Is tho Policy of the; Society?" Well, tlio socioty has reached the end of tho third yew of its existence; and, within a month from niw, Treasurer Castle will, I think, publish a report, and indicate a policy that will delight all our friends and astonish our candid critics. ,