62 COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



that sky-scraping British bird with the Eagle eye was among the 

 Pelicans, and made one of them move out of the way to allow him to 

 pass The most extraordinary Pelican on view was the Rough-billed 

 species of North America, it having a singular protuberance on the top 

 of its bill during the breeding season. 



In the great Aviary a regular pandemonium raged. The Night 

 Herons were mostly silent, but the Oyster-catchers and the Black- 

 headed Gulls were kicking up a most infernal din. The note uttered 

 by the Oyster- catcher is very shrill. The Common Gulls were squealing, 

 too; goodness knows why; I don't suppose they did themselves, for 

 the want of something better to do perhaps. 



The various Ibises were very fine, and I noticed the Glossy, Sacred, 

 White-faced, and Scarlet species, and, near at hand, a very splendid 

 group of Flamingoes were presented. There are about seven species 

 of these birds. The Secretary Vulture, the Mexican Guan, and Great 

 Bustard also caught my eye. 



A SLEEPING BEAUTY. 



Of course I had to see the Polar Bear. What a tall fellow he is 

 when he stands on his hind legs, and what a lovely set of pearly teeth 

 he possesses. 



The Hyaenas, Syrian Bear, Malayan Bear, Isabelline Bear a rare 

 fine animal this Brown Bear, and others also claimed attention. 



The Monkey-house was, of course, duly visited, and what amused 

 me most was a vain Monkey who was admiring himself in a piece of a 

 looking-glass! He fancied himself immensely, I can assure you, and 

 endeavoured to polish the glass on the sandy floor 1 I never witnessed 

 a more striking illustration of animal sagacity than this. Amongst 

 those seen I may mention the Chaxma Baboon, Guinea and Anubis 

 Baboons, Green Monkey, Pervet, Grinet, Moustached Monkey, and 

 Tcheli Monkey. 



