2838 The Zoologist — November, 1871. 



have often had young quails brought to rae that could hardly 

 fly. 



Peter Inchbald. 



Hovingbam Lodge, near York, 

 September, 1871. 



A Visit to the Rotterdam Zoological Gardens. 

 By Peter Inchbald, Esq. 



The few hours T spent in these Gardens were full of interest to 

 me. It was early in the summer morning, so that I saw the 

 animals, probably, looking at their best. The birds seemed to 

 rejoice in the sunshine, especially the flamingos, whose graceful 

 antics, as they chased each other or stood knee-deep in the water, 

 pleased me exceedingly. 



Mr. A. A. van Bemmelen, the Director of the Gardens, accom- 

 panied me round, and kindly trotted out the animals for ray 

 inspection. Probably the most interesting sight, and to me the 

 most novel, was the flight of the stilling birds. A Roman would 

 have had no small difficulty in drawing his auguries from their 

 flight, as each varies its movements in accordance with its habits 

 of life, from the clumsy adjutant to the graceful Numidian crane. 

 The house in which they are kept slightly reminded me of the 

 Palm House at Kew, but instead of glass there was an open 

 lattice of wire-work. At one side young trees were enclosed, so 

 as to allow shade and shelter. A large bason of water served 

 them for a lavatory. The night herons and little bitterns were in 

 fine plumage ; but the whole collection of these interesting birds 

 reflected great credit on the curator. 



My attention was next drawn to the secretary bird of South 

 Africa [Gypogeranus serpentarius), — that mysterious link in form 

 between the stilters and the birds of prey, and whose services are 

 so warmly appreciated at the Cape. His food in domestication 

 consists of chopped meat, I was informed, so that he has no 

 opportunity of indulging his serpent-fancies. 



As I alluded to other groups of quadrupeds in my notes on 

 the Gardens of Cologne, which appeared in the ' Field,' I would 

 here speak exclusively of the Ruminants, which were in vigorous 

 health, and seemed, as a whole, best worth especial comment. 



