148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



ested groups of visitors are constantly around the cases, par- 

 ticularly those containing such creatures as the tropical " leaf" and 

 " walking stick" insects and the larger and more active cater- 

 pillars. 



Some Australian moth chrysalids which I took to the gardens 

 from Mr. Le Soiief were very acceptable, as they arrived safely 

 and soon commenced to hatch out, they being the only repre- 

 sentatives of Australia in the house. The curator was in hopes of 

 being able to breed from them, as the food-plant of the species 

 sent — the common gum tree — is cultivated in the gardens, so 

 that the natural food of the larvre will be available. 



The new reptile house is specially designed for the comfort of its 

 reptilian and batrachian inmates. The cases are somewhat like 

 the tanks of an aquarium, being glass-fronted recesses around the 

 walls. Here I felt, comparatively speaking, at home, because of the 

 presence of a few species of our common Australian snakes. The 

 bottoms of the cases are covered with fine gravel, and suitable 

 baths and climbing stumps are provided for the snakes. All the 

 snakes appeared to be healthy and contented looking. Smaller 

 table-stands, with growing plants in them, formed the cases for 

 frogs, toads, and such like creatures, of which there are repre- 

 sentatives from many parts of the world. 



Naturally, the sections of the gardens containing animals and 

 birds from Australia interested me a good deal. The kangaroos 

 have very small quarters compared with the fine paddocks which 

 they enjoy in our Melbourne "Zoo," but they appeared to be 

 fairly healthy and sleek, though it is obvious that the smoke and 

 fogs of London are not altogether as conducive to their health as 

 the sunny skies and pure air of their native climes. I was much 

 pleased to see a pair of Australian Brush Turkeys, evidently quite 

 at home in their enclosure. The birds having made signs of 

 desiring to make their egg-mound were supplied with several 

 cart-loads of leaves, &c, and soon constructed a fine mound, in 

 which were laid several eggs. The curators were greatly exercised 

 in mind because the cock bird occupied all his spare time in what 

 was described as " humbugging" about the mound, scratching the 

 leaves away at one time and back again at another, but continually 

 engaging in this apparently superfluous task. It was intended to 

 try and get some of the eggs out of the mound and endeavour to 

 hatch them in an incubator. I am afraid that the climate of 

 London is against the generation of sufficient natural heat in the 

 mound to hatch the eggs. I suggested that probably the old 

 cock turkey knew his business best, and had very good reasons 

 for his scratching operations. Possibly he was wanting to let the 

 sun's heat into the mass. It was with quite a thrill of pleasure 

 that I recognized a well-remembered voice as I passed along by 

 some of the large aviaries, for there was our old friend the 



