WELLINGTON ZOO

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2351, 6 January 1915, Page 8

WELLINGTON ZOO

A YEAR OF PROGRESS

THE TOOTH-BILLED PIGEON

RIGHTS OF THE WEAK (By Jphn Crowes, Member of the Council of the .Wellington Zoological Society.) During the year 1914 the Wellington Zoo steadily improved; and it extended its hold, taking hold of the approval of more and more of the leaders of the life and thought of New Zealand. Never before tho last day of that year was the Zoo so highly respected as it was that day;.nor was it so popular as then. For our Zoo', tho year 1914 was a year of triumph and progress. And, although the affairs »of the -world are greatly agitated, and momentous changes that may affect all nations, may be sprung upon us at any moment, wo venture to hope that our 7ibo may increase its attractiveness and interest, and promoters during this year, as it did during last. The improvement of the Zoo, and the growth of its popularity navo not been results of the work of any one man, or of any particular policy: They have resulted from the hearty co-operation of reasonable, earnest men holding different views, and of just compromises; as effective as they are just and expedient. Some of us wanted to ask His Majesty the King to exhibit, in the Zoo a few interesting zoological specimens, others disapproved of that, but we nave in the Zoo to-day a small collection of birds that was procured under such strange conditions; and has in it at least one bird that is associated.with such romantic circumstances that. the exhibit should be regarded as a treasure of inestimable value and significance. How the Samoan contribution was placed in the Zoo I know not, but there it is, and the New Zealandor that dies without seeing that exhibit must evince a deplorable lack of healthy, natural curiosity, scientific imagination, romantic patriotism, and, proportionate' interest in the great tragic, national events that to-day are bewildering us by their suddenness, their rapidity, their magnificence, and their ramifications.' . More has been received in that contribution than we had imagined it would ever bo in the King's power to grant' to us. Next wo remark that some of us wanted for the Government to get a.monetary grant, and give it towards the Zoo. The Government has not done that, but has provided an aquarium, built under the advico of Professor Prince, the Canadian Commissioner of Fisheries., His advice already has been worth more than money to us, and from his influence we yet expect new benefits. . Mr. Aysoh's help, also, is invaluable at this stage. Aye, and-we have flightless pigeons, splendid, sea lions, and high hopes. Thirdly, some of us wanted a free Zoo'. We have not got what we wanted.- But .every Sunday the Zoo is free to every person, and on every other day of the week the Zoo is free to all persons up to 15 years of age. These compromises have greatIv improved tho feelings of several sections of the community towards each other, and towards the Zoo; and hence tho Zoo.improves, its prospects brighten, and ' its promoters become more numerous, more happy, more contented, more hopeful, and more successful. The Zoo is better now than ever it was be-fore;-.,1t,,wi1l be.better,soon.

Haye You Seen the Wonderful Dodlet?

When about 67 years ago.l awoke to see and hear what was" going, oh on-this' rotating, whirling, turbulent,. tragical, inscrutable, little plant that we call the Earth, some learned men were giving muoh attention to a newly-discovered species of.- bird. Some of them thought that the hooked bill of this' bird closely resembled the'bill of the dodo, a very big flightless bird that'was a native of Mauritius and became extinct about three hundred years ago. These scien-, tists imagined that the newly-dificover-ed bird was more closely allied to the dodo than any other living bird was, and the great Sir Richard Owen proposed that the name dodlot, intended to be a diminutive of dodo, should be given to it. But although this proposal emanated from such an eminont and influential scientist, it did not catch oni The bird has, however, had such a chequered existence, and its appearance in our Zoo is associated with such romantic associations, that every person that has any aptitude for the Btndy of birds should see it. We are told that in the year 1847, the year in which I, like the bird, became a centre and cause of much discussion and confusion about a name, a new gcnerio name, "pliodus," was conferred upon the much-discussed Sanioan pigeon. However, for our purpose we will adopt the title that seems to have been generally approved, and the full title of our toothbilled pigeon shall bo the "Tooth-billed Pigeon, Didunculus strigirostris." It is remarkable that birds do not accept the sentimental_ suggestions of poetical philanthropists who are ever preaching that birds that are confined in Zoos cannot be happy because they have not liberty to soar into the Empyrean. If birds can have plenty of good food, and reliable protection from their natural enemies, amiable visionaries may have the work of flying, and the bliss of tho Empyrean, as far as the birds are concerned. Didunculus strigirostris, being able to live without working, settled down to enjoy life on the ground, or on the lowest branches of the trees, and was happy enough until poets and philosophers and othor highly-civilised persons came along with their'cats. By this time Didunculus, having kept his wings unused, had almost lost the power to use them. Then puss, taking advantage of this, played havoc with the young groundling pigeons, and their unsuspecting parents, until the dodlet became almost as extinct as tho dodo. But fortunately a few of the mor.o_ vigorour and enterprising of the. species, in time of danger,_ rose to tho occasion, strengthened their wings by using them in the very nick of time, built nests high up in the trees, developed considerable defensive power, temporarily 'saved their race, even incrascd the number of its members, and made it possible for us in our day to see a real livo tooth-billed pigeon among several other curious relics in the Wellington Zoo. But this bird may die soon, probably will, and his species is not likely to continue much longer. Every person interested in our latest curiosity should j hurry up to see it. Of course I know that some naturalists would not endorse all that I have written in this paragraph. I have (riven tradition. Ornithologists were discussing tho bird before I was born and will continue, their discussion long after I die. This interesting bird, with what many persons have believed about it,' I simply commend to the notice of the readers of my notes. Pater or Police— Whloh7

■ "It is really wonderful," said a thoughtful lady when recently she. had been watching the sea-lions in the Zoo. And it was true. Ono of the animals is young. For a little while after he arrived he would not feed. Now ho enjoys feeding. A few doys ago he fed well, but wanted to get into his mouth a fish's head that was too large. Some of his mess-mates noticed this, and tried to take the head away from the little fellow. Their efforts caught the attention of tho newly-arrived middle-aged malo that is now the established head, of the sea-lion fraternity in our menagerie. Taking in tho situation at a glance, he rushed with all Ms jgighj .to aid $he iutokjMifi ik&b {Sb

mistakable emphatic snort with -which an earnest male sea-lion asserts his determination, and sent the two adult females and the half-grown upstart that was with them to the right and left. _ Under this protection the infant rushed away with the head of fish that ho might try to oat it in quiet somewhere else. At this there was a great rush of the would-be robbers, and an attempt, to take the prize. ■ Now, baby himself, knowing what a reserve was icady to assist, showed fight,' and instantly his guardian, rushed to the rescue This was repeated several times. The male did not. attempt : to touch the tempting morsel himself, but with amazing determination, threat, and success., he asserted and defended the rights of the weak. Truly, the conduct was wonderful, and after what I had heard about • the solfishness and savagery of male sea-lions it came as a veTy strange but welcome surprise. A Glorious Afternoon. The atmosphere of . Newtown Park last Sunday afternoon was so pure, and glorious, and sutubrious, that grumblers could not breathe it and live, therefore they were conspicuous by their absence from the haunt of 'the happy, and the grounds of the Zoo were the resort of a very large, healthy, well-dressed, cheerful, orderly, sociable, intelligent gathering of people, whose appearance filled one with admiration, and whose appreciative and eulogistic exclamations caused every lover of the • Zoo to rejoice exceedingly. And the-Zoo tosb to the occasion. The sea-lions were at their best; King Dick and Mary, his consort, and Maud, their magnificent daughter, were in perfect condition; and the peacock gave a display that eclipsed any exhibition of beauty that I, having admired birds, for more than, sixty years, had ever seen. _ . Admirers of Nature who do not rise to the raptures of religion would have rejoiced at that display, and worshippers of God would have been moved to see much Divine glory in that vision. Domesticated peacocks sometimes appear beautiful, but when the wild Indion son of Nature that is now in the Zoo shows himself successfully in perfect weather he "shines respjendently, and his pose is really magnificent.