SNAKE THAT WAS ONLY A MOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 21138, 25 June 1932, Page 5

SNAKE THAT WAS ONLY A MOUSE

Although this is not the time of the year when the Zoo usually' increases its stock a number of new creatures have been added to the collection from various sources.

A Grevy’s zebr-, has presented the menagerie with a quaint, long-legged foal, which is a particularly welcome addition to the nursery because she is a baby mare. During the last few years three other zebras have been born in the Gardens, but each time the foal was a male, and as the Zoo is short of female zebras this was rather disappointing. Now at last the Grevy’s zebras have a daughter. Another arrival came unexpectedly from a London market. The Zoo received an urgent S.O.S. asking that someone should go to capture an animal lying among some bananas when a crate was opened. Accordingly a keeper .was sent, and as such creatures as scorpions and venomous snakes often travel in crates of fruit he went prewent prepared for a dangerous captive. But the stowaway was only a tiny, harmless creature—a South American night mouse. This pretty little rodent was in an unhappy condition owing to cold, but as soon as ho was housed in the menagerie ho recovered rapidly.

Other additions come from New' Guinea and Java, and include three rare kangaroos, somebborerw r er birds, and many beautiful birds of paradise, which have never before been represented in tho. Gardens.

The kangaroos belong to a species of tree kangaroo never before seen in any European menagerie. The greater part of these animals’ fur is a rich golden brown, and on the under side it is of a golden yellow', wdiilc their noses, hands, and feet are naked, and therefore ordinary fleshpink. They are striking exhibits; one of the females is carrying a baby in her pouch.

Tho birds of paradise are all in full plumage, and the most exquisite of them appear to be clad in black velvet, with green waistcoats and an orange collar which looks like a flame when displayed.

The bower birds are not new to the Zoo’s collection, nor is their plumage remarkable, but they have interesting habits. In the courting season they construct bowers of arched twigs, which they decorate with bright flowers, pebbles, and bits of rag.