Ornithological and Other Oddities 



tue of our Zoo has probably seen the darter there 

 at his meals, and wondered at his marvellous 

 dexterity in harpooning his prey. It may there- 

 fore be imagined how interesting it proved to see 

 these extraordinary birds flying about the tree- 

 tops, and looking, with their long necks and tails 

 and broad wings, like some eccentric survivals 

 from a bygone age. When Mr. Sanyal wrote 

 his account in 1897, the darters had gone away 

 again, and he could merely express the hope 

 that they would return. This they did, to the 

 great delight of all who were interested in the 

 bird colony, and bred regularly year after year,; 

 they never became very numerous, however, and 

 always left after the breeding season. 



Interesting as was this assemblage of birds, 

 it was not altogether without its disadvantages. 

 The night-herons had not been very long in 

 possession before the trees on the large island on 

 which they had settled became very much fouled, 

 while the undergrowth was killed ; and with the 

 advent of the cormorants many of them spread 

 to the pandanus island, to the great detriment 

 thereof, and ultimately to the trees in the garden 

 itself. At last the matter became so serious that 

 the Committee of Management had to take it in 

 hand, and, very regretfully, to give the birds, or, 

 at any rate, some of them, notice to quit. Ac- 

 cordingly, tin cans, with sticks affixed, were hung 



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