114 Frederick D. Welch—Notes from the Zoological Gardens


pulling himself up again by the edge of the carpet (not very improving

to the carpet).


A few days after I had him we had friends to tea, and Jackie came

to the drawing-room to be introduced, and was duly nursed and admired

by all. When the time came for their departure I put Jackie on his

stand and left him alone in the room as we all went to the hall to see

them off. When I returned there was no Jackie. I called and hunted

for him, and then found that he had solemnly walked upstairs to find

me in my bedroom. I had only had him a week and he had not been

to the hall since he arrived, but had lived in my room and the drawing¬

room, so I suppose he naturally went there as the only other room he

knew. He is absolutely tame, and loves to be nursed and petted and

played with. When he wants to show great affection to me he not

only kisses me but takes my fingers and combs them down with his

beak in the most extraordinary way. I think his attraction is greatly

enhanced by his small size—he is unlike any Cockatoo I have ever

seen, and I can find no description of him in any book and should

very much like to know if he is a distinct species or simply a freak.



NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL

GARDENS


By Frederick D. Welch, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.


In former years a pair of the large grey-coloured Crested Screamers

(Chauna) lived in the Zoo, and later on bred in the large aviary near

the Clock Tower. The nest was on the ground, being a flattened

structure of hay and straw, supplied with some leaves by the keeper,

and was about 3 or 4 feet in diameter. Two eggs were laid, which

resembled in colour those of a normal British Pheasant. Both sexes

shared in incubation, and usually changed about midday, both then

uttering their loud trumpet-like scream. As on several occasions I saw

the Screamer, which was walking about at the time, begin to scream for

no obvious reason, and the other bird reply with a scream while still

on the nest, I cannot possibly agree with the remarks in the Royal

Natural History, vol. xiv, p. 362, where their powerful voice is referred



