VISIT THE ZOO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 3

VISIT THE ZOO

CHILDREN WILL LOVE IT ATTRACTIONS AT CORNWALL PARK. BIRDS THE CHIEF FEATURE. During recent years the zoo at Cornwall Park, Hastings, has undergone a transformation. At one time animals predominated, but to-day birds are the principal feature, A comparatively recent addition is an aviary, where there are now over fifty hand-reared song-birds, and these are an attraction outrivalling the animals. There are canaries, budgerigars, and zebra finches, and all are quite tame. They are hardy, too —being reared to take an open-air, cold water bath in all weather. As far as other inhabitants of the zoo are concerned, they are “all doing well,” according to the curator (Mr W. W. Adams). There has been no increase in the animal sections,; rather it has been tho policy to reduce the number of animals, and to-day, apart from guinea pigs and rabbits, the monkeys aud wallabies are all that remain. Tho wallabies continue to look out on the world with equanimity, though they arc isolated from the remainder of the inhabitants and have lost the company of tlie goats. There are four of them in the family circle and an increase is anticipated shortly. It is when Mrs Wallaby is carrying the youngster in her pouch that the keenest interest is displayed by the children. MONKEYS ALWAYS POPULAR. The four monkeys continue to hold the public fancy. Mickey and Jimmy vic with each other for the tit-bits cautiously presented by enthusiastic visitors. They are intensely jealous and each hates the other to receive special attention. The two big monkeys, Henry and Blossom, have been separated. Henry developed into a bully, and Blossom was in bad shape for a time. All hold their keeper in affectionate respect, and are visibly angry when anyone lays a hand upon him in their presence. A “Tribune” reporter tested it out, and was thankful Air the protection of the stout wire-netting, for Blossom took a six-foot flying leap and commenced to claw and snarl ferociously when the reporter’s arm rested on Mr Adams’s shoulder. Whilst adults and the school children find the monkeys and wallabies of chief interest, the tiny tots are devoted to the guinea pigs and the “bunnies.” Many a nurse girl has flirted on a nearby seat and many mothers have found temporary peace whilst tho little ones peer at the bunnies and guinea pigs. They are a constant source of delight to the tiny tots, for they are so tame. John, the peacock, is as vain as ever. A little flattery, and he spreads bis beautiful tail. He’s a big chap now, and quite overshadows Mrs Peacock. John intensely dislikes a noise, and screeches when an unduly noisy motor vehicle passes by. AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. Tho pheasants are an important part of the zoo. Pride of place goes to the Argus pheasant, a rising six-year-old from Singapore and a valuable bird. The Chinese silver and more common ringneek and Mongolian pheasants are doing well. In this respect Mr Adams is carrying out au interesting experiment in breeding, and one that may, in the future, be of considerable importance to sportsmen. He has crossed the Chinese silver with the ringneek, and the hatching produced a bird that gives promise of being admirably suited for the table. It closely resembles the Oriental strain in many ways, and should be well worth liberating- It is bigger in the body than the Mongolian, and is every bit as hardy.