NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2583, 4 October 1915, Page 2

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

(By John Castle, Secretary of the Wellington Zoological Society.)

In one of the large Zoo enclosures evidences of the kangaroo's love of boxing may often be seen. A big inalo kangaroo and a male Bennett's wallaby delight in a bout. Recently when humans wero engaged in a sham fight in Nowtoivn Park the banging of their artillery and the crackling of the infantry greatly frightened the kangaroo fraternity ; but no sooner had the noise of the guns been silenced, and tlio strains of the music begun to vibrate through our nerves, than the agile bjack-skin-ned wallaby challenged the powerful red-skinned kangaroo to givo an exhibition of boxing, on their own account, and the staid father of a family readily accepted the suggestion. Aye, and strange to say, when they stood up to begin the bout, a white-headed old man was their most interested spectator. Of course, tho height and weight of the big kangaroo were too much for tho roach of the wallaby; but where strength failed skill compensated. Making good nse of his tail, as a. fulcrum, tho wallaby, with forceful agility, rose to the occasion, ' planted two beautiful blows near the kangaroo's eyes, and simultaneously brought up his -two bind feet, and, using them as hands, sent two good, well-directed punches on to tho stomach of the kangaroo. This was too much for tho giant redskin, and, taking advantage of the _darkie'3 plunge towards his face, the big fellow threw his arms around the darkio's neck, and hugged until the lithesomo laddie grunted. But at the first sound of protest by the darkie, the redskin broke his hitch; and timo for breathing was allowed. There was no sign of 'Jib ripX>ing process which kangaroos are said to practise in real warfare. The boxing bout was perfectly fair, and, although fairly vigorous, was evidently only playful; and was played in the best of spirit throughout.

The Enchanted Glen. 1 . To the unimaginative mind the heading of this paragraph may seem a strange conglomeration! but among amateur botanists, horticulturists, and zoologists there are children of genius, natural poets, glorious day-dreamers, daring , speculators, rationalistic naturalists, and genuine theologians. They all seo visions, dream dreams, observe phenomena, draw inferences, and enjoy creations, some of them very natural, and v some very fantastic. There is in the grounds of the Zoo, then, one comer j.tliat must be regarded as the "Enchanted Glen." And such a glen is a fit and proper place for the play of imagination and an assemblage of fairy-like suggestions and spiritual memories. Surely enough the "Enchanted Glen" is a delectable meeting-place of the past apd tlie present—the, place, of a strange mixup of charming materialities, spiritual inheritances, beautiful promises, exquisite remembrances, and many other things that I have neither time nor space to mention. At the far end of it native bush blooms in its season, and exotic laurel flowers more profusely than I have ever seen it anywhere else. Thither the tui comes in the early spring, and meets Tennyson's favourite throstlo, the European thrush, a bird of quiet raiment, but a musician ivhose music might by its range, variety, compass, and ineffable sweetness challenge the attention of care attuned to tlio melody' of the heavenly harpers. I hope that the delectable meoting-place of the tui and. tlio thrush will bo preserved in its present simple and exquisite appropriateness. Nearer the phea6antry an enolosure is being made for kiwis, unique birds, like ghostly visitors from primeval forests,, scorning modern lectures on the virtues of light, choosing the darkness and only stalking forth in dimness suitable for the appearing of weird, unearthly apparitions:'Adjoining the kiwis'.', shade, and coveting kisses of the sun, are blushing rhododendrons; roses arranged in colour schemes, azaleas, also, and beautiful .carnations. The Wellington Rose, and Carnation Club is developing an idea which has in it, mora than an illustration of the possibilities of artistic landscape gardening and of tlio wonderful production ■of new and excellent varieties 'of colour 'effects and fragranco by scientific culture. Young rhododendrons, ' . which . were planted only a few weeks ago, are bursting into bloom ; roses are showing abundant signs of rovivicationazaleas are growing, and a Japaneso variety is impatiently fUwering; aye, and the carnations are'not behind in giving promises. The Wellington Rose and Carnation Club has begun a great work. May the :City'Council aud.the public' contribute worthily to tlie realisation ;of the club's magnificent dreams. The labels of the Rose and Carnation Club yield excellent food for poetical imaginations. Like Aaron's rod, which budded, they, will some day yield a poem.

Tlis Welcome Quinnat. Some quinnat salmon fry have recently boon placed in tho aquarium, 'i'heso remind 1 us of the fry of the samo species that were put there before it was opened for exhibition, and have been there ever since. By comparing tho two lots we are enabled to perceive how great the gi'owth of tho seniors has been. The growth at first was very rapid; but, lately, it has not equalled that of the" American brook trout. The future changes in the salmon should, however, be very interesting. In the ordinary course young salmon, before they are a year old, move from the upper reaches uf rivers down to theestuaries, and soon, from thence, ..go out to sea,.' where, : under new. conditions, tliey grow at an amazing :ra.te. Our smolts are perfectly healthy in captivity, and seem fairly happy; what progress and development may be theirs m; tho future remains to bo seen. Be that as it may, we have tho quinnat salmon, in two stages of growth! on exhibition in tile Zoo just now. The quinnat. is the species that has .been acclimatised in. New Zealand, and is likely to become a" very valuable asset to the Dominion. .