LIFE AT THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1925, 6 December 1913, Page 11

LIFE AT THE ZOO.

MODEL PARENTS.

BEAVERS AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLES.

NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS.

[By John Crowes, President pf tlie Y\ ellington Zoological Society.] A white sw.m with snowy plumes, superbly arched, sailing gracefully oyer a rippling pond, in the perfcct sunshine of a Wellington summer day, is a thing of beauty to bo admired and remembered. The male white swan is a proud bird, and is seen at his best when lie prunes to pleaso his mate, or when he carries his offspring 011 his back. Lately the proud paternal parent swan on the pond ifl our Zoo has been arrayed m all his glory; and lie has magnified his importance in a manner amusing and magnificent. This week his faithful mate, after sitting patiently through the storm and rain and shino of six long weeks, hatched out a young one. The curator of tho Zoo saw it and was pleased. But, alas! when the watchful curator looked again, soon afterwards, 'his prize was gone. No cygnet could be seen in, or near, its homo AVondering what had happened, the curator turned away. But ho did not wonder long. Soon lie saw, far down upon the ripples of tho shimmering waters, paterfamilias Cygmis olor carrying his infant progeny out 011 exhibition in a superb gondola that Solomon, if he arrayed his infants as brilliantly as ho arrayed himself, might have been pleased to see his favourite baby riding in. I always like to see a father carrying a baby in his arms or 011 his back, or wheeling ono in a perambulator. The malo marmosets, tho male silver pheasant, and tho malo white swan 111 our Zoo are model parents.

Practical and Picturesque Animals, Enos A. Ulills admires beavers. Every person ought to. And all the readers of Tim Dominion ought to help my society to buv some beavers for the Wellington Zoo. "Mr. Mills has lived among beavers, watched t'hem, studied tliem, and written ajiook, that is well worth reading, about then. A copy of that book is in the reference department of the Wellington Public Library. There ought to bo a copy in every lending library in the world. Mr. Mills says: "Altogether the beaver lias so many interesting ways, is so useful, skilful, practical. and" picturesque that his life and his deeds deserve a larger place in literature and in our hearts." My society lias been inform'ed that a pontleman is bringing some beavers to New Zealand,. in-the. course of his .voyaEio from Vancouver to Australia, and that ho is willing to sell somo to us at a reasonable price. The Government has granted a permit for thorn to be landed. J'no City Council s willing to provide suitnblo accommodation. . Jupp's Hand lias kindly consented to play a selection of music in connection with my society's collection to bo taken in Newtown Park to-morrow (Sunday) afternoon. The City Council has granted a permit for tlio collection. And we believe that hundreds of visitors to tho park will respond .to our appeal. Now, I again appeal to the outside public for aid. Kindly send along vour contributions to Mr. John Castle, lion, treasurer of the -Wellington Zoological Society, 139 Iliddiford Street. Wellington. But our patrons must distinctly .understand .that wo receive their contributions on tho condition that wo will not pay' high prices for animals, and that, if any society cannot obtain at. prices tho animals wo specify, wo shall bo free to spend tho moneys in the purchase of other animals. ; ,

"Who Says Eaglos?" I have always' held that tho British Empire and the United States Republic, if they could not keep the whole world in perpetual peace, could prevent impetuous nations from rashly plunging their neighbours into war. Therefore, I always try to promote friendly feelings between Now Zealand and America. White-headed eagles, are, I am told, the zoological emblematic representatives of America. Now somo white, or bald, headed eagles, owned by a gentleman coming to Now Zealand, are offered for sale to us. These eagles should be purchased, and if for educational purposes only, placed in the Zoo. Our children should bo taught to keep America evci beforo their minds. To do this lions and eagles should stand together in our Zoos and musoums. My society is trying to urge the ,City Council to buy a pair of tlio eagles offered. Surely, His Worship the Mayor, who prefers birds to beasts, will uot shy at- the "king of birds," nor will Councillor Frost, tho esteemed chairman of the Reserves Committee, who has done so much for lions, tho representatives of tho British nations, ''turn down" eagles, the, representatives of our American brothers. If wo get money enough wo will buy the eagles; if we d(i not tho council should.

A Bolt from the Blue. Soon after I published my last appeal for money, my friend Mr. Castle and I woro so strained by hard work, and so fettered liy tlio conditions that the industrial strike and other eircmnstanccs had brought about, that wc felt that wo fnust rally tho forces of our society and prepare for strenuous efforts or nothing. Wc therefore called a moating to a.ilt whether wo should "wind ill) tho society or no." Our notice shot liko a "bolt from the blue." Tho thought of terminating tho existence of such an energetic society as ours had never entered the hearts of tho society's friends or foes. Tho meeting's answer was "No"; most emphatically "No." Tho members didn't speak quite as strongly as did the great preacher's friends wTio said that it would be better that tho sun should stop shining than that bo should stop preaching; but they hinted that it will bo a dull day for New Zealand when, if ever, the Wellington Zoological Society stops working, or Zoo notes fade out of tlio firmament of iTiie Dominion. Providence also seemed to indicate tho same, for tho animals which wo were not ready to purchaso could not lie got away from Vancouver in tho boat wo expected them by, and consequently v.'o liavo time for another elfort. Only a few donations had been received when wo temporarily suspended animation; but now the society is in full work again, and the animals are expected to arrive at Auckland .011 December ]8. Now I will not ask for £100, but suroly the readers of Tnr, Dominion will walio up and send something. Ivindlv uoto our treasurer's address: Mr. John Castle, chemist-, etc., 139 Riddiford Street, Wellington South. A clergyman up-country, after reading my appeal, sent a half-crown,- with an apology for not sending more, but he was 0110 oF the four clergymen in Nmv Zealand who might fairly liavo withheld an apology. If each of all our Now Zealand clergy would send to Mr. Castle a lialf-wown, 1 think they would all go up in Mr. Castle's estimation. At any rate, tlioy would in mine.