LONDON ZOO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 30 September 1927, Page 5

LONDON ZOO

WORLD'S BEST REPTILE HOUSE PLANNED BY A WOMAN For two years a woman has been working at the London Zoo to evolve the finest reptile house in the world, and at last she has succeeded (states the London Daily Chronicle). She is Miss Joan Proctor curator of reptiles. and one of the foremost experts on the subject in the world. Miss Proctor is primarily responsible for the planning of the new reptile house, which, built on the lines of the aquarium, has cost over £56.000 Each case in the house represents the habitat of the reptiles which occupy it, and, by the aid of living plants and beautiful painted scenery —the work of Mr John Bull—the effect is strikingly realistic. On a stretch of the alkali desert of Arizona, bare save for rugged boulders and thorny cacti, monsters recline beneath the realistic rays of artificial sunshine shed from invisible lamps. Crocodiles 101 l upon the banks of palm-bordered lagoons of seemingly unlimited expanse, whilst tropical snakes disport themselves in jungles apparently dense with vegetation Water-hyacinths float in the smaller pools, and the collection of palms, cacti, aloes, and other plants are, in themselves, interesting exhibits The largest and most spectacular case of all is probablv tuat in which “George,” the monster alligator, and his brethren have taken up residence. AU the roof lights and windows are of “vitaglass,” permitting the pass, age of ultra-violet rays. Special thermostats control the electrical heating supply, so that the current is automatically shut off woon ?t reaches 83deg, until it falls to 77deg when it is automatically switched on again By a system involving between 11 and 12 miles of wire, in the event of temperature rising to 85deg, a bell is rung and a red light is shown against the number of the cago and also on n n indicator hoard in the head keeper’s room. Similarly, if the tern, neratiira falls to 75deg. the warning bell sounds and a green light is shown.