OUR ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 8 January 1913, Page 5

OUR ZOO.

•' B —: —: . •■.■,■■■■ Zo SOMB OP ITS ATTRACTIONS. •'"'" • in HINTS FROM THE INHABITANTS. th '.•-. , "■.' ." ' - wl ;.: 'HOW THEY ENJOY LIFE, .]„ (By J. Crewes, President of tlio Wellington ™ -,- iy';'■_'.v ' Zoological :Sooiety.) '■''If ■the mountain cannot come to Ma- ? .liomet,';Mahomet ; must 'go to the irioun- <$, .tain."'; That, or something'like it, w.as Tl sagely spoken by a wise'man long ago. On a a principle not unlike that on which that *3 saying runs we say: If we cannot go to 0 f all parts of the world, we should try nr to follow the examplo of the wise Orien- pi tal kings who lived in ancient times and wl bring the most interesting things of all J, other parts of the world to paradises in c j c the part in which we have-founded our lei homo. Somo of us cannot go to China, at but wo can get to Newtown Park whore g { wo may see the. glory of the golden y ( pheasant'and hear the musio of tho Pe- k< king nightingale; we' cannot go to the ol African jungle, nor even to.'the Zoo in al Regent's Park, but wo may see in our ai public Zoo a lion whose magnificent head ct equals in majesty and excels in beauty ai tho heads of most of the lions Air. Selo-as tl over saw, or Dr. Mitchell and Mr. Pocock bi have exhibited; wo cannot go back, to e< the dear old English orchards and hear fc there, again the music of the bygone days, oi but we can take, our grown-up children or a' our littlo grand-children up to tho AVel- ii lington aviary and'hear'tno goldfinches k sing the very same . notes of exquisite sweetness that thrilled us to ecstasy in j tho days when their musical little ancestors sang.to us among the npplo trees; we'cannot go to tho tropical ■forests of A South America and: see the great' macaws " in a flight of these transplendent birds b whirling and playing, in the glorious sun- ° shine of their, natural,habitat, but we v can stand in a'climate once described as P "good enough for heaven" and admire s some fine representatives, of several 'varie- ° ties of this, the most gorgeous, and mag- ° riifiecnt gem',s of the parrot tribe; wo °, cannot go over to the breezy Himalayas and see tho wild thar leaping from crag r to cray on rugged mountain heights, .but ° we can Igo to Newtown, where thero is s not everlasting, calm,'and standing.among s stately fir-trees can inhale health-laden a breezes whi}e"we watch kids of the wild J goats leaping from .log to log with .as s muoh agility and glee as their little consins "in the far-away spot among tho '*> . rocks; we cannot go to tho coppices and grottoes and fern-clad slopes and cornfields T and hay-meadows where in days of yore, E when; : the world was' young .to us, we } chased the rabbits; and startled the ringnecked, .pheasants', and watched, the wiiy J partridges, but in tho Wellington Zoo tho T quail sits half-hidden in the. turf, young ( pheasants fun through' the .long grass, ! and rabbits, ■ old and young, run , and } iro'mp.as they used to when'wo were young J and wild;- we cannot go out into all < tho world and see abroad, the wonders l of' it, but tired ■■ clerks can leave. stuffy j offices, mechanics can leave the : hum, lof engines, the buzz of : saws', and tho .' deafening noise of rivetting machines; and : weary wives and tired husbands ~can ' . leave their' .overcrowded narrow • hemes, ' and wo can all, in a few minutes, and for a few pence, ride in a car that'-runs ■ .. more .1 smoothly than, a .Governor's carriage, from any part'of Wellington out , to open,- grounds, and. willow-frinrred *j ; ponds, and sunny banks'and grassy slopes, and undulating shady walks in gardens. . where ;l,ions Toar, and dingoes howl, aud emus grunt, and kiwis 6ieep,' andmon- , : keys piny .and chatter,"and pheasants ■ - crow, and ■cockatoos ; 'i talk and macaws 1 '„ scold, and kingfishers laugh, and'a musi- i ■: cat and humorous magpie'gathers up a ' : collection of motley sounds, weaves them i ,- into a medley, and standing on the;hifrh- : ; est platform he can find, sings and talks < and whistles, :y' '-..■ ,- :,',; .: : Should : fathers Wheel Perambulators? < . Attention'has already been direc,tod;#o 1 ; the conduct of the rbea that died a mar- ] ': tyr. to his."diity,.and ionoW; exhibited'as ■ a'monument "to his own. memory in .the i Newtowii.vMuseum. Tho conduct pi ■. the ! . marmoset-that, ',• when his littlo,.wife was .i • tired,, took: turn in'.carrying on .their ': .'. backs their little son, has also been.com- i mended. Now, /will tho big, strong 1 men that;.walk lazily by the side; of their little wives'carrying in',their; arms big ' '■• babies, 'or.wheelingi;theni:,in: peramhu-: . latprs,'kindly notice the .male silver pheasant • in the' Zoo?— with',what r. cafe watches ' his'', brood? of.' beauties, ; how'ho covers them with his broad wings , when, the babes are tired,:,and how he al- •„ lows his .gentle spouse ' to enjoy a woll- :,■• earned holidaywhile;ho proudly takes charge-'of their lityle. family. : "Go to, the - ant," said one, wise teacher, "consider., her ■'~' ways, and'be'wise." .'Tho death-rate of young pheasants, human babies, and their .-,, mothers', will. ■;be lowered .considerably \ Men ajl .fathers become ns kind and con- ■ ; .siderate;as.-the male' silver pheasant in .;• 'theVZoo' is;, Leafh,;o...yO; fathers, cvery- ;:•:. jwhero/.thatiritho.: judgment of the mar- 1 ■•';" m'oset,, the'-rhed,, and'tho silver pheasant '. the';fathef;:that,' ; is too to. carry' his ,'•'.- own;-babies 'should be' considered to be '■_■■ too: weak-minded-to be "'allowed to get ,-. any,>.:^-;-.y ; .iV ■:■'■■''. ■■■ ..'■:' '.'■ '' ' ;■ Zoo, and pother Politics, . ~„Oneof. the great cries of some modern ' istatesmeh,is:' "Take: the duties off the ■ , iEeqessaries; of, life 1 .".'-'. "Aye," cry a host ; of /political philanthropists, "the people, ;.: -'must be fed— feeding is the principal busi-' .-: ;ness' of life." .This doctrine is eloquently \ :pVeacEfld;;by ithe wild boar in the Zoo, S .every i morning. But "sport' is just as . /necessary as fcod," cry, the athletic sports .;' committees. ""Aye, aye," cry. Ministers ,'■' 'of. the Crown, members of Parliament, V worshipful.Mayors, members of City ,". ;.Councils, r cricketors, ~ footballers, tennis ;-.,'players, bowlers,'_etc,: etc. "Aye, aye," all the I ' monkeys' in the.Zoo very elo- .;' quently ami demonstratively say—ospeci- ., 'ally.the yoiihg' monkeys. Now, I sav no- "■ thing- against tho ' politics of the Freetraders, tho; ; sportsmen,' tho wild boar, : ahd. : .the. monkeys. ■-. Thdy are natural ; find 'necessary. But roan, is more ■ a : 'than.a... combination of monkey and.wild *;'• The'a'nimal nature 'of man is an et>itome ; of all in the animal kingdom. But tho intellect of man is higher than ■ anything or everything^in all other ani- „■ linals,-:.'; Sportsmen' and '.'politicians "and "." statesmen then if they do not help; the i people to provide, inaddition to food, and sports .'schools,' colleges, universities,- observatories, zoos, and museuids, ireprescnt only a very low,state of civilisation, v anr evince unfitness.fo exalt a great nation. , : ~ ; . •'. ■ Divided Eyes and Divided Spectacles. ..I do not concede one-half; of : what many of my friends claim for evolution. But the animal nature' of 'man is such an epitome of tho'animal kingdom that honest students may take very important hints from lower animals. Wo aro told that Agassiz, in - his journey ;up the Brazilian Eiver Para, found a fish which leapt about in the water like a frog, and -which consequently had its eyes as often above the water as below it. This fish is said to bo known as the "four-oyed , fish," because each eyo is divided into an upper and lower position by an opaque horizontal line, which gives tho effect of 1 ' two pupils, the one suited for atmospheric and the othor for aqueous vision. Perhaps it is from this fish that modern I opticians have taken tho hint of provid_J ing divided' spectacles. Lately several of - my friends have been ' wearing glasses , horizontally divided in the middle, oneN.half of the glass to be used■ for. reading or seeing things near, tho other for seeing things nt a distance. If, when we want two kinds of vision, wo cannot divide the ..'■'■ pupils of the eyes we can, instead, divide the glasses of the spectacles. Another hint that may bo taken from animals is thnt to.'live long and be as happyas pos- ■_ sible we should learn in whatsoever state ; wo are therewith to be.content—not satin isfied, but not discontented. More than ii year ago pensive tirophcts prognosticated 8 for-Bess, tho sea-lion, an early decease The water in her pond. was too shallow or'too fresh, or too warm, or too grecr to please the critics. But Bess had learn cd to take tho water and the weatlwr a: it came. She could; lie in shallow watei or swim in deep water or bask in the sunny verdant slopes surrounding th< water. As soon ns she was placed in th Zoo she made it her home, and to-day J having been thero several'years, she is a fair and fat and frolicsome ns she wn when she arrived. The splendid conditio! and general • ImpDiness of .Boss mdicat the wisdom of making the best u?e we ca; of circumstances we aro unablo to -i;u I Drove, and leaving the moping and wait

! to sentimental poets and mournful ilosophers. 3 Gaieties. > ['ho c'hiltlren who tako a kindly interest young animals find much enjoyment in > reciprocity that springs up between 3 animals and their patrons. Old men 0 retain the interest never lose their shnes3 or their ability to admire tho ishness, the beauty, tho poetry, of Nare. In fact, aged men and women can i-er lose their youthfulness while they ii ntain sympathy with and delight in j young. To' old and young, then, the ung life in the Zou should to interestf, and tho variety of it there at prelt is 'charming. There are kids of tho mr, or wild goats, kids of domestic goats, beautiful young Axis deer, young grey bbits, young yellow rabbits, and young lite rabbits, fresh from tho burrows straw wherein they 'wero born: there 3 marmosets, and white mice, and silver easants, and a turkey, and mallard and lite ducfis and Muscovy ducks, and ung seagulls of two species, and cygnets two species of swans, and there aro ves and canaries, and finches of several ! nds—all healthy and bright, full of life d youth and cheerfulness. Nor are the. ,ieties of tho Zoo confined to tho very ung members of it.- Two young monys, which are now more tr:an a year il, aro among tho liveliest of tlio Zoo's tractions. They w<jre born in the Zoo id thero they liavo been reared. They n get through the fences'cf_ their pens id tho whole wide world is open to ;em. But their food is plentiful, their ■ds aro clean, and the protection afford- [ to them is kindly. The monkeys, therere, leave to learned philanthropic the•ists tlie work of - -.publishing mistakes )out Zqos, and while brilliantly perfornig acrobatic feats, say as plainly as mon•ys can— ' "Homo, home sweet home, . b it ever so humble, there is no. place like home." . bout tho samo age as the two yearling onkeys, is the little Malayan sun bear., is is perhapstthe most amazingmember : the Zoo: She climbs, and twists and 1 ims and tumbles, playing,cleverly to lease herself and amuse onlookers. And, range though this may seem to some : my senior friends, the oldest inhabitant 1 tlio Zoo is one of tho most playful : the members of the Zoo: company. But King Dick" teems to do a good \ader of character. ' In the prosenco of sombro .philosopher, his Majesty is iter and sombre and sad. He seems to ly the Zoological '.Garden is a sepulchre, ad to me human beings are bores. Ho awns witV a lassitude that is.inexpres,blb and seems to. say by his looks as he loses his huge mouth, ".the depth of niy jrrow at having ever.,.been born is imi easurable." Pathetic indeed it is to watch hile Dick mourns in th® presence of hilosophers, and sentimental ladies standng by sympathetically sigh, and say, What a far-away look tho poor creature oems to have in his eyes." But notice ho change when at a distance of 9 nunred yards he espies a friend, a man with , little humour, in his heart and light a bis .beaming countenance. See how at he sound of liis voico his Majesty forets all his sorrows and dignity, gallops ound his exercise yard, rolls himself over n the floor; tries to tie himself up'in a :not, twists and turns, and murmurs deigiit that his language j fails to express. )ick can be'happy with cheerful people, ind' with friends'ho can, trust ho thoriughly, enjoys a ;romp, but for sombre-

heed, savants he ''simply! has no time. L Zoo is a dull, place to dull people and ntirose animals only; but to people of a lapuy disposition it is'a place of infinite nterost; arid to nitimals naturally goodemperedia place. Of pleasure and-pront. "ho Zoological. Society.' A few. weeks- ago. it .was reported that i-h'en tho society had asked _ permission o take a collection in. Newtown lai&> nonthly, one of our- city councillors, vliom I have always highly respected, skod why the privilege. asked for, should granted. Now that question:is a fair ,ne,' and as the City; .Council', was not eady to.' answer it favourably, promptly, ind fully,' it may ho that some other ot. iur fellow citizens may ;ncod'a : little eniglitehmenfe. I am pleased to say, then hat' the 'fact. that;'to :• a'ljublic latlr'ahd collect'."money; 1 oVory •coin-'of finch is counted in tho presence of sev-

>ral witnesses, spent .to. improvo the city - • Job, .and'.accounted -.icpo,rJS','ient ) '; :o ,'the: public is' regarded _ as in enviable privilege, is. an . encouraging iign'of the''times.. But it will .be' floiccd that my society does not 'want to nonopoliso this - privilege. ~ When'. the [raimvays Band took up a collection toraTds the ■ Zoo we did: not try.'/to- prevent >r hinder them; we helped to advertise. :heir intention, and rendered some littlo lelp in ;collection;'}. Nor would we inter'ere if the astronomical section of! the Philosophical Institute' asked permission to, on -aiiy holiday or Sunday, make a :ollection towards, tho. Observatory fund. Up, t0.710W.-I'/have not even heard of any objection to the effort that some of our fellow' citizens are making .to forestall the-effort that we suggested in our annual report.' The . Zoological Socicty, is not .'narrow. Wo say' right heartily— success to all; kindred societies, and' to all efforts-honestly) made to improve our city, its people! and all [who will visit us. All'that,we ask-is that .legitimate facilities may be ! granted to us .to enable _ lis 'to discharge our duties to '-. the public. : And here I will give a few. reasons Avhy, these facilities should be grant-, ed: (1) In '.several'.parts;of the city; are boards oh which is printed 'his appeal: "Citizens, protect your own property." Now, I submit- that--the demonstration of the existence', of a society pledged to improve the Zoo and to cultivate kindness to animals! and of the fact that more than a thousand people who visit the Zoo are in: sympathy with the society, ought to be regarded ,by the City Council as a power for' good that should be . highly appreciated and increase. (2). That a society: of thoughtful men "; and ■ women, studying the climatic, conditions of tho Wellington ; Zoo; and the kinds /of animals most suitable for the Zoo considered from economic, educational, popular, and utilitarian points of view, should be able to render invaluable. help tfk tlie City Council and to spread very valuable information among the people of the Dominion. (8) ;That the society is doing important work from an'international point of view." (4). That th'e society, by what it has .done,-has justified its existence and given'promise of great usefulness! The ostriches were presented through our'so-' ciety.. Soon an incubator will be. needed. Who will give the incubator? The.brown bear was-prescnted through the society. Another must' be obtained. Xo saoa ijerson would CTlfrcvcf fhlnf flirt -nAW Im.'.! •— .1

wouiu suggest;that tho now house and fard should be monopolised by one bear.' two could get some young bears a ready market could be found for them I think. Inquiries are being made. The flamingo was ■ introduced by our' society,' but to make a good 6how we must have,at least three more. These are being got to tho sooiety's order, and must be paid for. All the animals the society has presented havo been paid, for or received as presents. The society, pays promptly. as we are, wo know what , people walvt, and we' oro able to advise as to tho desirability of getting it. The bower bird was presented by our 6ociety. : We were extremely fortunate in getting tho one wo presented, but we want to get one or two more. Inquiries are bein? made about boavere. Other animals havo .been proposed by us, and approved'by the City Council, and every person, else as far as I know. Why, then, if we promiso not to offensively dun the visitors to our public domain,' Should nit. our collectors be allowed,to stand occasionally and receivo what citizens who sympathise with us are willing to contribute. Even if tho emmcil make a charge for admission to'the Zoo and voto in addition to its profit ,£ISOO a year, there will for many years to como bo ample Toom for.the people to supplement public trrtints by private or semiprivate gifts, if the Zoo is to be made a3 useful as it should, arod could, be,' I now ' want about JCIO. Will each reader of theso notes kindly send a small' donation to our treasurer. Itr. Castle, chemist, Riddiford 'Street?':He will'acknowledge tho receipt, . and I will seo it properly spent.