40 THE ZOOLOOIOAL SOCIETY. 



and little owls, and a hybrid between the turtle-dove and domestic 

 pigeon, of which, unfortunately, there is no history. The exotic 

 birds consisted of the crested partridge, Chinese starling, the 

 parrot fruit-pigeon (of which very few examples have been 

 exhibited since), and the St. Domingo falcon, now called the 

 American sparrowhawk. 



In front was a large pond (24), on which w^ere summer ducks, 

 shovellers, tufted ducks, gadwall, teal, garganey, lapwings, ruffs, 

 a night heron, coot, and black-headed gulls. In their printed 

 draft Vigors and Broderip mention the fact that carp were bred 

 here in 1828, adding: 



When some of the more pressing objects of the Society have been 

 attained, a favourable spot will be selected where experiments may be 

 tried with regard to Fishes, the naturalisation of which was a favourite 

 project with many of the leading and most active founders of the 

 Society. 



West of this, on the site of the existing llama house, were 

 the cattle sheds and yards (25), containing small zebus, a fine 

 Brahmin bull, and an American bison calf, presented by the 

 Hudson's Bay Compan}^ This young female replaced a very 

 large male, purchased from a showman, by whom it had been 

 exhibited under the classical name of " the bonassus," to which, of 

 course, it had no claim. Soon after its transfer to the Society it 

 died, " probably in consequence of the sudden change operating 

 upon a habit already enfeebled by chronic disease." Behind this 

 house were the owls' cages (26), which have been removed within 

 the last few years. The stock consisted of great-eared, Virginian 

 eagle, snowy, brown, and white owls, and a pair of ravens were 

 kept here. 



In front of these sheds, near the site of the bandstand, was 

 an octagonal eagles' aviary (29), containing a griflbn and sociable 

 vultures, white-headed eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, and 

 golden eagles. East of this aviary was the turtle-doves' cage 

 (27), containing, in addition to the common form, white and 

 pied varieties, wood- pigeons, white- crowned pigeons, an 

 " Oriental partridge," a Californian quail, black-tailed godwits^ 

 a scarlet ibis, and some Norfolk plover. Opposite was a rabbit 

 enclosure (28), in which the wild species and fancy varieties 

 were kept. On the right was the guinea-pig enclosure (30), and, 



