Squirrels

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33253, 16 June 1973, Page 14

Squirrels

Sir,—Grey squirrels were: kept, as your correspondents say, on the Acclimatisation’ Society’s property adjacent to the Public Hospital. These; squirrels were in a large aviary, which also contained; canaries and finches, and

i pheasants of several kinds. There was a large cage of keas—about six of them—and an enclosure with peacocks and guinea fowls. Children used to feed the squirrels with peanuts and acorns. 1 remember seeing these entertaining little animals about 1918; but, by then, the emus your correspondent writes about were gone. When the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906-1907 closed, the emus and kookaburras that had been in the Australian section were sold, or given, to local residents. Until recent years, several emus were still to be seen on a well-known North Canterbury property. — Yours, etc M. C. HOCKLEY. June 13, 1973.