ZOO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2245, 3 September 1914, Page 8

ZOO NOTES

FISH IN THE AQUARIUM CAN MONKEYS L.AUCH7 (By John Crewes, President of the "Wellington Zoological Society.) , . Within the limits of the Zoo garden there- are hundreds of beautiful animals that are never seen by human eyes. In tho somewhat murky depths ,of the pond'perch nre hatched and grow and thrive. Lately a few of the denizens of the gloom have been .brought into the light and placed in one of the tanks of our new aquarium. The perch are'small, but. beautiful and bold. They are good for an: aquarium, for they soon become so fearless and familiar that they take food from the hand of a human friend. Perch have been known to multiply in a small vase. Already the few in the Aquarium have attracted much attention. Soon gold fish and silver fish and other interesting beautiful exhibits will challenge comparison with the- peroh, but the glory of thopioneers ,of the progress of the Aquarium cannot be bedimmed. "The bnghti>yed perch, with fins of Lyrian dye," is oho of the most beautiful of our ■fresh-water fishes. Now the Hon. Mr. Fisher and our muoh-worried Mayoi, with Councillor "Frost and other busy notables, must nutry yip the fish for our Aquarium, anfl while our stalwarts hold Samoa, and fierce battles rage in Europe, and anxious people crowc? round the newsboards in our. cities; must arrange to have a peaceful .opening of the exhibition of aquatic beauties we hope soon to see in-Wellington. Strange Sounds'at the Zoo. A few days ago I heard men, under the willows that rempd me of the grave of the great Napoleon, speaking a language that I' could not understand.. When Tasked who the-speakers were I was told that they were French men-o'-war's men. I shall not allow my patriotic ardour to obtrude into ' rcy notes. But our City Council, and the Government of our Dominion, and the Wellington Zoological Society, and Mr. Langriclge, the curator, and all theother promoters of our Zoo, should be pleased to learn that when intelligent young foreigners visit Wellington they evidently become fascinated by the interesting objects that we have all cooperated to collect to interest and entertain, and give instruction 'to our visitors and ourselves. Recent Additions, While war has been distracting the minds .of many of my fellow-citizens, animals have' naturally died in the Zoo; but tho work of replenishing has also, been proceeding. One goat has been bom there, and there have been brought one deer, some Blue Mountain lorikeets, 2 crimson parrots, or pennant pairakeets, some quail, two pairs of. red-browed finches, and a pair of nutmeg finches. These, with the perch arid the aquatic plants just planted in the aquarium tanks, would bo well worth going to see, although they are only a few among the many attractions of tho Zoo. A Perky Little Punchinello. Just now my time is precious, and there is n great demand for war news; I must therefore cut short my Zoo Notes; but having just received a lettor from the Hutt, speaking kindly of my work, and I 'expressing a hopo for the appearance of more Zoo Notes in The Dominion soon, I give a few; remarks with a small supply of the results of casual observations. Some of my humorous friends contend that man enjoys the pioud distinction of being tho only animal that oan laugh. But there is in our Zoo a /monkey that if ho cannot laugh can mimic laughter. One day,'whon irie little fellow, quite a youngster, was'in a good mood for mimicry, I tried him with a- laugh, and Ji7s fanny little face responded witli something that if it was not laughter was. perfect imitation. Whether hie vocal sounds wore up to a dictionary definition I don't know, but they got near enough to it to sot. more than me ' a-thinking. There are -two little bonnet monkeys in tho Zoo that have attracted the , attention- of thousands of curious observers, and mopish people that long to laugh but cannot might «fo. worse than watch them..

Vhe Zoo Pro Guide. ■ A -week or" two ago a lady and gentlemau, talking each other in a tram- , car, wore lamenting that they had been unable to obtain a handbook of the Zoo they had been deeply interested in. Now, our City Council has risen to the occasion > and resolved that the Zoological Society's Handbook and proguide shall be sold- at the entrance to ■the Zoo. Until- further notice any visitor will be able to obtain, from the officer in charge'of the tickefrbox, a. copy of our little' brochure, which has been highly eulogised by many disinterested judges whose competence we nave great confidence in. ■