Visit to Prince's Zoo.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1922, Page 3

Visit to Prince's Zoo.

THIRTY-FEET PYTHON AS THE PRIZE SPECIMEN.

The extensive collection of wild ani-

mals presented to the Prince of Wales during his tour of the Far East has been safely lodged at the London Zoo («av.s the “Evening Standard” of May 27tii).

T!u task of transferring the animals

In in the travelling cages in which the

long sea voyage was passed to their mo I e permanent lodgings has been no light one, particularly in the case of some of the larger mammals and reptiles.

The black leopards proved especially difficult to deal with, both oil account •of their remarkable agility, and the fierceness of their dispositions. Efforts were made to beguile them into the new quarters with joints of meat held temptingly before tbe bars, but despite these allurements great patience and skill were called for ore the change was successfully accomplished.

The' great cat" remained for some time snarling suspiciously in the furthest -corner <>f their boxes, and when the temptation to seize the bait became too strong, dashed with lightning rapidity at the meat, only to rebound to their old retreats before the (•rill could he lowered. BLINDED WITH FURY.

Even when at last safely housed in tile large cages and dens which have been especially erected for tbeir re* (option, the.beasts would do little but tling themselves against the iron bars with hared teeth and extended jaws, roaring and snarling with eyes blinded with fury, and ears laid wickedly hack against sleek heads. Sportsmen have, repeatedly, asserted that the blade variety is much more savage, older, and altogether more formidable than the commoner spotted leifpard, and the behaviour of those recently arrived at the Zoo would appear fully to hear out this statement. Despite this entire lack of “party manners,” however, the black leopard is a strikingly beautiful creature. the sleek, black hide shining darkly as the muscles ripple beneath it, and showing glossy rosettes of deepei colour, in strong lights, presenting much the appearance of watered silk. 'Die pet of the collection is a tiny Mala van hear, hardly larger than a small dog. This little creature exhibits all the playfulness usually associated with babies, whether animal or human.

The Malayan hear never attains to the size of either the brown or black species, the head and body rarely exceeding 4 feet in total length. It may he further distinguished by the short, coarse fur. and by the hand of orange or white which runs across the chest. The muzzle is this hear is quite linked, while the tongue is very long and prehensile, and is used to extract the honey and grubs, which are favourite articles of food, from holes and erevices in trees. THE HUGE MACAQUE.

The collection includes many monkeys. mostly small and playful, hut there is one notoriety which comes with the reputation oi having killed a unlive hoy! There is a huge Macaque of Uu-bidding aspc t, possessed of long dog-like teeth, which project below the lip when the mouth is closed, and which the owner is by no means averse to exhibiting to anyone approaching his cage. Those whose experience ol monkeys is confined to tbe small specimen* usually seen in captivity rarely realise bow formidable these larger indiv id unis • iiuiy bo when roused to

fight—it is stated that an old male is unite capable of defending hinnolt against the attack even of so determined and powerful an enemy as the leopa rd. Among the birds are included several rare am! beautiful forms, the Argus and Firebacked pheasants being especially striking. The former is the larger of the pheasants, the male bird in full plumage measuring upwards of five feet from the ]>oint of the beak to the tin of the tail, the latter appendage occupying throe-fifths of the total length. Very attractive, too. is the Cro'.wied AVoud Partridge, the mime of which is derived from the full crest of rufous feathers which surmounts the head in the cork. The plumage of the back vhrilllnnt scintillating green, relieved hy metallic nurple on the breast and wings. The hen bears no crest, tut is little, if at a.II. inferior to her mate in beauty of cobjration.

THIRTY-FELT IN LENGTH. Despite the desire to keen iho j Prince’s Zoo together, intact, and mpnrate from the other animals in the ■ gardens, it has been loiiud inijim.gicidde to construct suitable homes for the reptile contingent in the Antelope. Paddocks, where the rest of the codec tion is housed. These arc. tlier'L.re, lo be seen apart in the Reptile House. The popular nttraeton of this section isi of course, tlm gigantic reticulated python, the largest reptile ever captured alive, which measures nearly .■■wit in length. Although these huge mi-, strictors can crush ail animal as huge donkev with their thick, muscular coils, the diameter of the throat is far tqo small to allow of such '.rev bong swallowed, and it is improb ■ I 'b‘ that anv aiiimnl larger than a coat is ■ ever taken. The food generally con- ; sists of birjls. monkeys, small deer. etc. ; and before being swallowed this is crushed into a pulp, and liberally lubricated by a copious secretion of saliva . which is poured over it in the mouth to assist the passage down the gullet. The nowlv arrived reptilian giant is in splendid condition and very active. At present he is engaged in divesting himself of the old slough, showing the , brightly coloured new skin bonentn. A ; life-size picture of this python is to , ho placed in the centre of the enc os- j ure reserved for the Prince of Males j animals. Several other interesting reptiles are 1 included in the Royal collection of | which nassiiv mention may lm made ot ■ the king cobra. the bite of which »s «•> . venomous as to cause death of human . victims within two hours of its ’nillotion a small Borose crocodile a species „f whir'lV sometimes attains a length of 33ft. and which is often fomyl swimming far out to sea; and two ltnwksbdl turtles, from which the tortoiseshell of: commerce is obtained.