ZOO NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 3

ZOO NOTES

CHRISTMAS VISITORS ' (By John Castle, Secretary of tho Wellington Zoological Society.) Wellington weather .welcomed a goodly number of visitors to tho capital of Mew Zealand at Christmas timo; and welcome surprises met many of these whon they visited the Wellington Zoo. "I must bring hini up again before wo go back, if wo find it possible to afford the time," said a fond mother, speaking of her delighted boy, as he, full of excitement, moved on from pen to pen, admired the pheasants, tho penguins, the poutcrpigcons, and the laughing jackasses ; and, as ho went, exploded interjections with all tho ecstasy of a new experience. "Well," said a veteran visitor, "this is my first visit to tho Zoo, but I must say that tho collection of animals is very interesting, and I think that a littlo book containing a plan of tho grounds should be published, and bo sold at the entrance gate." More than one visitor was ■ overheard saying to friends, "Wo ought to havo oomo earlier; it would take the wholo of an afternoon for us to see tho Zoo properly." Very numerous were the happy friends that sauntered together in tho garden, noticed" the animals, admired tho roses, and talked about old times and new times and the portentous coming times that are interesting;enough but carry clouds of possibilities that subdue our happiness. Something New in the Sea-Kon Pond. I always try to impress npon the readers of my notes tho importauco of visiting the Zoo early and often. Tho • gentleman who sppko as though ho could havo visited it often but never did visit it before this week saiv many, interesting animals" that were there when ho did visit; but ho did not sea several others that had passed through the : Zoo. Tho rheas, tho flamingoes, tho Gatin bower-bird, tho cranes,, tiie mallee fowl, the sea-leopard, tho marmosets, and the llamas, all remarkably interesting species, havo been swept away by death, and perhaps more than twenty- other species have died out. Warned by past losses, readers as soon as they read of new arrivals of exceptional interest should hurry Tip to seo them. Recently two animals wero placed in tho seals' pond. Tho ono whoso colour is lightest grey is a sea-, lion; hut.what is tho ono of dark colour? • : Quite 3 Feature! AVhen an observant, scientific, critical, practical, amateur grower of roses, carnations, and pelargoniums, reports that, recovering from tho shock caused by the'deaths: of two of his sons who had been killed while fighting to maintain, tho honour of their country, ho recently visited our Zoological garden, and derived so much pleasivro from what ho saw, especially from the roses, that he. 1 went homo and told his wifo that ho must take her up to seo the beautiful flowers, tho Wellington. Rose and Carnation Society may well tako to heart tho gratification that should ever result from deeds of public-spirit-edness nobly done. I was highly pleased to hear of tho : grateful expression of appreciation from tho sorrow-stricken heart of our estimable fellow-citizen, and with great pleasure I commend to tho attention of all tho readers of my notes tho steadily-developing :plan_ by which the Rose and Carnation Society is giving, at a rate that seems almost miraculous, to tho inexperienced. _ a rich exhibition of choice blooms which have been brought to perfection in what seems an amazingly short time. It also is gratifying to remark that, while the Rose and Carnation Society is exceeding tho expectations of its warmest admirers, tho beautiful roses presented.by the Thomas Horton Company, per my society, arc worthily holding their own and showing up splendidly. The rose garden at tho Zoo is ono of Wellington's most admirable features. Ho that has not seen this rose garden, has not seen Wellington. Now is tho timo in which to seo it. More Features! I have mentioned tho hew seals, which are attracting much »attention, and .should he seen by everybody. Mr. Langridge told me that one of them is a fur seal. - I havo not been near enough to ellablc me to classify that one. Up in the wader's aviary several penguins which havo recently arrived are noticeable. On the- largo pond three ducks'of a dark colour havo been added. In the aviary, near the palace of "King Dick," the lion, young pheasants, young Californian quail, and a little budgertear that seems to have hurried downstairs before ho was quite dressed, and been,unable to. get back, all rim about in. tho sunshine, and as they have nothing to do, aro blessed witji plentyfof'food, and are not molested by enemies, seem fairly happy. The_ little fox, which was recently placed just opposite to tho eagle, is perhaps the merriest littlo fellow in tho Zoo, and when he sees any person that ho. knows he jnmps and rolls, and even shrieks with delight.

Osman. Of course, Osman, tho famous dog that led the sledge teams in Captain Scott's last expedition in quest of tho South' Pole, is much noticed; and it .".fiords me pleasure lo ho able- to report that lie is kept, in good condition. It is true that one gentleman wrote a letter, expressing tho opinion that Osman did not seem very happy, and asking where Mr. Crowes, with his love for animals, was. But when 1 had shown the letter to Mr. Crewes he expressed the opinion that tho writer was a kind-hearted gentleman, wlio under a slight attack of indigestion had readhis sombro feeling into his view of Osman. Whenever I have seen Osman out with a boy the sagacious do" scorned to enjoy going at top speed and .showing lion- bo used to pull a sledge along, said Mr. Crowes; and generally when 1 have ' seen' ihim in ■his yard ho has come to bo caressed, and to mutter his little murmur of affectionate appreciation. Whether romping with a lad or talking to me, Osman seems happy ouoiHi'"mid although, like His Majesty Iho King, and all other public sen-ants that have important missions to fulfil, Osman must sometimes be subjected to irksome restriction and discipline, X am of opinion, said Mr. Crewes, that Osman in his homo in the Wellington Zoo is crowning an eventful lifo with a pleasant service that is not unworthy of him.

The Little' Yellow Canary. Any person who would find evidence of the salubrity of Wellington's climate, and of tho happiness of birds in captivity, should notice, tho plumage and the quiet composure of tho little golden-hued beauty that has for a weak or two been sitting in an aviary facing the south in the Wellington Zoo. In the Christmas holidays this beautiful little- hen canary, sitting in a snug little nest in a cabbage tree, has been observed' and admired by more visitors of all ages thnn any other bird in the Zoo has. Now wo are told that tho canary of all tiny creatures is the most sensitive to atmosphere, and that because of this birds of this species are kept as indicators in mines, to detect the prcsonco of impuio gases. Let visitors to Wellington look at the little canary,\ sitting in the oixm air in tho Wellington Zoo, and tlicn remember that canaries do not tell fibs. Like an angel of innocence that little canary sits, sublimely quiet in the breeze, and silently laughs as she demonstrates the manifest uns'crupulbsitios of dyspeptic citizens and unprincipled globetrotters that malign the climate of tho most highly-favoured city on which tho sun has over shono.