Graham Renshaiv— The Pretoria Zoological Ganieva



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THE PRETORIA ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS


By Graham Renshaw, M.I)., F.R.S.E.


“ The country now presented the aspect of a vast zoological garden.”

So wrote Sir Cornwallis Harris on his famous African journey long ago,

and though the“ bonny mountains of Cashan” no longer harbour swarms

of White Rhinoceroses and troops of Sable Antelope in the Gardens

at Pretoria the naturalist may yet make intimate acquaintance with

the fauna of a sub-continent. Those who have not wandered so far

afield may gain an excellent idea of the collection through the

illustrated Guide Book, printed in English and Dutch, a copy of which

has been sent us by Mr. Haagner, a member of our Society and Director

of the institution. Between 1,600 and 1,700 vertebrates are usually

kept, enjoying a lovely climate which renders elaborate heated buildings

all but superfluous, most of the animals being actual natives of the

country in which they are exhibited. The main entrance gives

immediate access to a grand avenue of silver oaks.


The aviculturist will find here much to interest him. Parrots swing

in semi-liberty under the silver oaks, recalling their relations of Regent's

Park under the trees of the canal bank. The Pheasantry, 175 yards

long, contains the Golden, Silver, Reeves, Amherst, Swinhoe, and

Ring-necked species, besides Crowned, Bleeding Heart, Crested, and

Wonga Wonga Pigeons ; Bustards and Francolin are also shown in

this series. The great flying aviary is 135 feet long, and contains

Peafowl and Guinea-fowl, Ibises and Coots, while in the trees over¬

head are seen Touracoes, Parrots, Glossy Starlings, and Doves. The

Brush Turkey, of mound-building fame, is also represented.


The Carinate birds are represented by North and South African

Ostriches (including an albino female and an Emu) ; the larger water-

fowl are located near an avenue of gum-trees, and include the

Madagascar Knob-billed Goose, the Egyptian Goose, the Spur-winged

Goose, and domestic Ducks. The lesser water-fowl — Carolina, Mandarin,

White-faced and Whistling Ducks, Japanese Teal, Magpie Geese, etc.

— are installed in small paddocks in another part of the grounds, while

Swans and Flamingoes are accommodated in a large pond, the oldest

installation in the Gardens. The Indian Bar-headed Geese have lived



