RARE BIRDS FOR A ZOO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

RARE BIRDS FOR A ZOO.

NEW GUINEA EXPEDITION.

CANNIBALISM AMONG TRIBES. After a prolonged expedition, among cannibals in the interior of New Guinea, Mr. Walter Goodfellow, F.Z.S., has brought to the London Zoo a remarkable collection of birds and animals. Many of them have -never before been seen alive in Europe, and some are probably new to science. "Cannibalism is still rife among some tribes, and it is probably indulged in, secretly, by most," said Mr. Goodfellow. "Even a white man is not safe in regions remote from the patrol officer. But though I penetrated such districts and found myself among two warring tribes, I did not encounter any active opposition.

"The laziness of the natives was my thief trouble. Because they would not work I was held up for two months in the interior, and, during one month, had to live almost entirely on sweet potatoes." Birds of Paradise were the principal quarries of the expedition. Export is now permitted only for scientific purposes. One ,of the rarest of these captives is a young blue Bird of Paradise, otherwise known as Prince Rudolph's Bird of Paradise. It was taken from the nest and brought up by hand by Mr. Goodfellow, who is believed to be the only white 1 man to have made such a find.

The plumage of this veritable bluebird, when adult, is most gorgeous, but for some time the wonderful curving tail feathers were a mystery to scientists, as the under parts were the more beautiful. It was Mr. Goodfellow who discovered that the bird displayed itself by hanging upside down from a branch by its feet and pressing back its head on to its breast. The symmetrical plumage of the tail then formed a background. There are many strange animals among the collection, including two species of flying fox, at present unidentified, and a pair of flying phalangers, experts in the art of gliding. A loss much regretted is a baby kangaroo of a very rare kind, which died after Mr. Goodfellow had brought it up on babies' food.