106 
tail feathers 12 to 15 feet long, were treated 
only as “flight of fancy” of the native 
artists. Hven the very fine 
Oe ee specimens exhibited in the 
central hall of the Natural 
History Museum, 8.W., are not so con- 
vincing as seeing the birds alive, and by 
special permission I am able to show a 
photograph of one of the prize cocks, 
brought over by H. H. Prince Komatsu of 
Japan, as a present to H. M. the Queen. 
They were only deposited at the Zoo for a 
few days, 
awaiting 1n- 
structions 
from Her 
Majesty as 
to thei 
destinaticn. 
These long- 
tailed fowls 
were origin- 
ally found 
in a village 
in Japan 
called Shino-wara-tao, and were 
named after it. When natural- 
ists were convinced that fowls 
with tail feathers 15 and even 
17 feet long really existed, they 
objected to the long tails on 
the theory that, as fowls moult 
once a year, there would not 
be sufficient time to re-grow 
them, and were surprised to 
find that these birds only moult 
them once in every three years. 
The care and ingenuity shown 
by the “Japs” in making the 
cages in which these birds 
were brought over is worthy of 
all praise, and are so arranged 
that the tail feathers drop behind a shelf 
and cannot get damaged or soiled, and 
the cages are a fine example of Japanese 
wood and bamboo work. Had similar care 
been given to the “housing” of the bird 
of paradise which arrived lately (it was 
almost unrecognisable in comparison with 
the stuffed specimens at Cromwell Road), we 
should no doubt have had a fine specimen of 
WHITE JAPANESE 
BANTAM. 
desire to know more of the 
Commander Scott and his gallant crew as a 
means of 
icebound. 
the principal leader of a pack of Siberian sledge 
Animal Life 
this most beautiful bird to delight us. But 
many animals kindly sent to the Zoo have 
not sufficient care and thought bestowed 
upon their “packing.” A photograph is 
also given on this page of a white Japanese 
bantam sent over at the same time as a 
present to Her Majesty. 
yO 
THE interest shown in the Antarctic Expedi- 
tion, which was taken out by 
Commander R. F. Scott m the 
“ Discovery,’ must arouse a 
methods used by 
Siberian 
Sledge Dog. 
the vessel becomes 
shown is that of 
locomotion after 
The photograph 
dogs, which 
were under the 
care of Mr. 
Weller, who 
had the charge 
of the dogs 
under Nansen 
and other ex- 
plovers. The 
pack were 
temporarily 
deposited at 
the Zoo for 
about a week 
last July. 
They felt the 
heat so much 
that they had 
to be placed 
in Open runs 
with tarpaulin 
coverings, 
which were 
kept as cool as 
possible with 
All the dogs were specially traimed 
for the work, and cost about £30 each, and 
being used to intense cold, could not bear 
the journey in an ordinary steamer through 
the Red Sea, so were sent on in advance 
of the ‘Discovery,’ in a “mutton boat,” 
and were kept in the refrigerators to 
acchmatise them to the intense cold they 
had to go through. 
water. 
