ZOO NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 6

ZOO NOTES.

TfIE;MALATAN,BBAR:

jfif ; j^DUX^o|.THE3G|||il||' ; [By! : ;;Jobn:«;CreweE^W : Prosidci!t^»of .* the : ; . ! ftj'W.e}lingt6n' Zoological Society?] - v : >. ' "V : v ; --:#; , s';#s i i;®W'.¥'<%■;"'■'■ .*• •■';' ■"■ :; '■.?.'?'"''> V Manyfaj;bpyt ; w6uld ? attract;- , attention and'; wiu;.a : ';prize,...if -granted an "oppor-tunity/KfSo--would -many a girl, , , and many^a" : wqmftn, and .;many ■ a. man. .What is*tru'o.'.iii-this-respect-of men and womciV aiid. girls .and.-.boys is true of tho animals, in a zoo.v-C'.lt is also true that :■ in a ■ sooj ■■ as, in a. luijjian household,* '.tho most mischievous member is tho brightest, cleverest, most attractive, and.interesting. This little homily has been called forth by Teddy the Malayan bear. . Teddy'seems inappropriate when ■used as a pro]x?r nemo for a female bear. But Teddy was named Teddy on tho voices, without any discussion or popular vote, when the little bear was very young, and I know too well tho cost of opposing the popular voico to attempt to oppose it on such a matter as this. But it was necessary for mo to mention the sex of Teddy,- lest, some philanthropic friond,. always-, wanting to get mates for".tho animals, should purchase a Jinney, or a Georgia, of a Jemima Jane, instead of a George,.or John', or Joseplnis, to ...bo a mate for Teddy. Well, Teddy '■is undoubtedly brilliant. But until now her cleverness has been somewhat "obscured. To offer a history of her performances since as a star she appeared in a Christmas show in ono of our City emporiums, and was returned to the Zoo rather earlier than I expected, would bo to exclude my riiiraßfaph on account of its length. Lately generally. sli«.was chained, for wood, ■ concrete, and corrugated sheetiron weT6 not proof against her mii-c-hicvousness. love of change, anil persistency. ■ However, the' City Eneiheer, with a staff of expert, workers in concrete,, and some of the host artificers in the iron world, has built an un-tc-date residence for.Teddy, and I hope that their work. will keep the. clever httlo performer ./safe .in . cantivity/ Already she has shown that sho can climb the pates ~' of her den, just as easily, as sho can tho pole, and can walk on the coping of tlie'hi'gh concrete wall with ns much confidenen as she can on the floor.. Sho is causing great amusement to visitors, and I 'venture to predict, that; nrovjded plie does not attempt too ; mwh and fall and break her hack, she will soon be regarded as the dux of thevZoo;;,..";^-:-...;,:, _.;.■■ ■ ForeDasts.' , ': , ,*-. '''■"'■..-.vA/'-v ■"■■-. There is a wonderful charm in forecasts. '■■;■ A great many. of my friends want to peer into tho future. Ull tire day on which my forecast touching the weather of next winter appeared \ n The Dojhsjojt, I, feeling tired, woat to the, Newtowii Bowling Green, and sat on the bank to wateh tho bowlers. I had no sooner seated myself on tho ?£ ,*, Qno of tlw veterans among .tho_ bowlers loft his bowls and came, saying 9 "Why Mr. Crowes, how is tlnsr" ' "What?" I asked. "Why, said my practical and thoughtful Scotch triend, surely, if wo ■ may' expect a very early and severe winter, you should put on your slippers,. and . get i a as nuidi bowling as possible before tjio cold weather comes." This raised a question among the bowlers on tho green, an d soon UoW ]i llK gave kca a discussion on solar physics, Zoo indications, and meteorological conditions into winch several speakers entered with ia ssest that nothing but-bowline often What a this aboufe-ani. early,winter?" said a tradesman-wife had been moving anions his ■customers during a whole day; •wherever I go I hwr of a prediction that appeared-in The Dosiisws f JO, ;t an parly and severe winter." Mother frmnd.suggested that, my wefhetioirlmd some allusion to the Rot. U. ti. Hates and his forecasts; but whon I showed a loiter on earthquakes, mv suspicious critic was convinced that I was discussing meteorological conditions berore I became acquainted with mv reverend friend.. Now, I will S i vo one or two more forecasts. I have recent, Urator of tho Zoo has winced a kind of anxiety, such as it dkl not & Tear S "?i' i future to predict that'this mil have disappeared by Jammrv 22. Another of my predictions is tiint within one month from now hundreds of visitors to tho Zoo will be preisui" the treasurer of my society, Mr. "John Castle, for moving tho society to purchase the young Roiden plieainnts and the pair of Ladv Amherst's pluwssnts that are now robiiig themselves for reappearance in robes that aro gorgeoush Kspomlont, Tl>o male of "tClmbmts lmHimisolf while ho was moulting, nnd I don't wonder that in his raggedness ho Was ashamod to be seen • but riow he is comma with such a robo' on tliau u ppoplo don't praiso Mr Hastlo for bringing Kn cb a bird to the /on—well, they cannot have any praise m ij"V- Ano t ner of my forocests is an addition to ihe sea-lion family. Tint J am always nervous about foroWJinnth*- birth of flny kind of lion. I i-diwjd to bPli.v P that. tho.parents, if disturbed, eat their young.,Some Alterations. ~ .; . : All tho bears aro how ,in their new residences, and a goodly show' they make. Tho black Himalayan'hoar has improved wonderfully since he- was brought to tho Zoo, and in his nwv residence ■he shows up handsomely lho .fenciug-m of the Zoo is procecd- '"?, steadily, ■, This is causing tho shifuitg of several of the Zoo bitildinas, and of some of the animals, the City Council has recently .effected several great improvements in our Zoological park: and I am bound to say have effected a few costly alterations that are not improvements. Tho beautiful aviary in which the fountain was, has been destroyed, but a new . aviary is . being mado at the- corner where tlio kangaroos were. Tho kangaroos are up near the ostriches. The mandarin ducks are m the pheasantry, but,, as tho drakes aro..monlting,,,butfpw of , .their admirers could recogniso thorn just now, Tlio flaminaoes are up ~iu tho pheasantry: but tiro pleasantry also is doomed. ' I ospect to soo a new plioasantrv spring lin near the lions' house. Judging from tho number of new dons that nro beinir constructed opposite tho yard in which tlio kangaroos, were, arid from Rome) reports I have'heard, I'think that 3[iv Laiißridgo is expecting somo aninials from somewhere abroad.' My society has not recently. : receivpd * any communication from the gentleman from wliom :we expected to' , .purchase somo animals Inst- month; but I hope "that both the City Council and my. society will bo able to effect a few good purchases soon. , ' ■ ■•' . ;;,.,. ..;

The immigrants from .the Shetland Islands by. tho Rotorua arrived in Dtmcdin on Saturday, "and . through tho efforts of the Duhcdin Expansion League they wore all in suitabJo employment by Monday evening with tlm exception of sno, a lad of 18,■■ who will find no difficulty ...in getting plaeed.'. '■■■ ..■. / Jtr/' ,T.\-Ciilford- Bill and Miss Betty l'urdom notify that they intend to resumo tenching .on Monday next, and will , he nt. their new rooms in Trevor Studios, Willis Sd'Pet, every afternoon from..2 to 5.30 for-the purpose.of rmroHinj pupils who desire tuition* :h elocution either for privnto lessons or in olnsses.. 'l J honn 1S0I). *-'.A. general meeting'of the.. Wellington Citizens' Carnival -"Association will be Itch! in the-Council Chamber, Town. Hall, on Tuesday,. January-. 20, at. 8 ■ p.m.- -vAll citizens interested'in-.Uio.carnival are , , invited. ■.fi,n : r,:^-<-< :: :$ 3:.;;%;;.:, '■ W?:' ■■ -■i thnro ; are '"' nearly ■'' Yi,OOO,f)SH)' aertis nf *i»te tftftd in EngUttd wlwjh-. a» C4j?abie Ml bdss, oßltiTMa4i.v;;r* ?> y..,%, . .>,-■.-