THE ZOO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8186, 30 July 1912, Page 5

THE ZOO.

REPLY TO “A BIPED." (To tbe Editor, "N.Z. Tiroes.”) Sir, —Kindly permit me to tell your correspondent "A Biped” that although I am willing to do what 1 can to promote tho Zoo in Newtown Park, and further tho popular study of zoology, 1 cannot afford sufficient time to enable mo to prepare elaborate reports on the application of anonymous friends. 1 will, however, take this opportunity to suggest that any intelligent person that refiected for one moment on what ho saw ought to have seen for himself that no iiea nor other insect could live for any considerable time on a monkey. That monkeys do like to bo searched, and that in all zoos other monkeys like to search for the little salty substances that exude from tho skins of monkeys, is well known to naturalists everywhere. And as to what your correspondent says about tho meaning of the word animals, tho word in my report means what it means in all such reports and includes all the mammalia, the reptiles, and tho birds in the Zoo. The suggestion that I should classify tho animals in the Zoo as quadrupeds, birds, or reptiles, seems to me to Ire absurd. As far as I can remember, all the reptiles in tho Zoo are quadrupeds, and I think that every person will admit that monkeys are neither quadrupeds, birds, nor reptiles. However, as I keep a list of the animals in the ’Zoo for reference I will at a week's notice at any time supply to the editor of the "New Zealand Times" for publication in his paper a list of all the animals in our Zoo classified up to date. But I cannot afford to deal with anonymous correspondence nor can I promise lo answer alk signed letters sent to me. My strength is limited and I must try to devote it to worthy objects only.— I am, etc., _ JOHN CREWES, Pres, of tho Wellington Zoological . Society. Wellington, July 29th.