4244 The Zoologist — November, 1874, 



rarity as a penguin and a Didunculus will become permanent residents in 

 their respective compartments. 



The Explosion on the Regent's fanal.— This canal passes through the 

 Zoological Gardens, and it is a matter of great interest to ascertain what 

 effect the explosion would have on the collection there exhibited. Of course 

 my readers will at once understand the difficulty of making any accurate 

 and careful observation on the conduct of the animals at five o'clock in the 

 moniing, when so few persons would be on the spot, and a time of such 

 extreme alarm and peril, and consequently the unreliable character of any 

 newspaper reports. In reference to the " loud cries" and " dismal bowlings" 

 reported as having been heard, Mr. Bartlett, the invaluable Superintendent, 

 has kindly given me the information that he can find no evidence of this ; 

 and that he has arrived at the conclusion that none of the animals uttered 

 loud cries or howled during the disturbance caused by the shaking of the 

 buildings and the breaking or falling of the glass. The alarm caused them 

 to run about teiTor-stricken in the dark, and it was not safe to enter any of 

 the buildings with a light, because that would have caused them still greater 

 alarm ; the only thing to be done was to go into their houses and call them, 

 and speak soothingly to them. In almost every instance this had a good 

 effect, as indeed it always has. They recognised the voices of the Super- 

 intendent and keepers and stood to listen, and soon their extreme terror 

 seemed to be allayed ; but many of the deer and antelopes, which seem to 

 have been more affected than the Carnivora, trembled for hours afterwards, 

 and those which had ventured to lie down again started on their legs on 

 hearing the slightest noise : in a few cases the use of their limbs was 

 completely lost for a time, but in every instance they have now entirely 

 recovered ; and not a single death has resulted from this terrible explosion. 

 In the eastern and western aviaries the glass was shattered and fell in 

 showers ; as a necessary consequence some birds escaped, and others made 

 their way into compartments not intended for them. The under-mentioned 

 birds are entirely lost, and doubtless will enjoy but a short-lived hberty : 

 we may daily expect to read of them as excessive rarities killed in the 

 vicinity of London : — Two cutthroat sparrows, two paradise Whidah-birds, 

 two Manyar weaver-birds, one rufous weaver-bird, two Java sparrows, one 

 green dove from Japan, one diamond sparrow ; and in addition to these 

 escapes, one graceful dove was killed by a toucan, owing to having strayed 

 into a wrong compartment when the prison-doors were opened by the 

 explosion. The following birds also escaped, but were recovered through 

 the vi'nlance and skill of Mr. Travis : — One glossy starling, one Baltimore 

 oriole, one whitewinged weaver-bird, one brouzewinged pigeon, one hcmi- 

 pode, and one Indian sand-grouse. — Edward Newman. 



