THE Grey Struthidea, 
The Bully although 
_ and only about 
his Gaolers. a gine OF 
a dove, is the most 
cruel and aggressive 
bird caged in the West- 
ern Aviary, and after 
lallimg many of his 
kind and haying his 
quarters shifted more 
often than any other 
bird on account of his 
murderous propensities, 
he has at last found his 
master, and settled 
down to a quiet life. 
The only birds which 
seem to be a match 
for him are the laughing 
kingfishers (also natives 
of Australia), and they 
thoroughly keep him in 
subjection; but other birds, 
even double his size, he 
lulls by piercing the skull 
and braiming his victims. 
Visitors to the Zoo often 
enquire of the keeper of 
the Zebra House (where 
the wild assis housed) if 
there is a laughing jackass 
there, and much surprise 
has been expressed when 
they are directed to the 
Western Aviary and find 
the animal they are seeking 
is a biped, and no other 
than the Laughing King- 
fisher (Dacelo gigantea) ; 
and one has only to ask 
the keeper to make these 
birds laugh to be surprised 
at the hilarity of their 
voice, which is exceed- 
ingly strong. 
for so small 
a bird. The 
body is of an 
olive- brown, rather 
whitish beneath, 
Zoo Notes 
GREY 
STRUTHIDEA. 
AUSTRALIAN 
KINGFISHER. 
303 
with the tail banded 
with black and ferru- 
ginous, the tip being 
white. Gould states 
that these kingfishers 
“frequent every variety 
of situation, the luxu- 
riant bushes stretching 
along the coast and the 
bushes of the higher 
ranges being alike 
favoured by its pre- 
sence. Its food, which 
is of a mixed character, 
consists exclusively of 
animal substances— 
reptiles, insects, etc. ; 
but crabs are its 
diet.” 
wa 
General regret will be felt by 
everyone to hear that Mr. Clarence 
Bartlett has resigned his position 
of Superintendent of the Gardens 
through il-health. It was Mr. 
Bartlett who accompanied His’ 
Majesty the King, when Prince 
of Wales, all through the Indian 
tour, and had charge of all the 
animals the Prince collected, 
which were safely brought over to 
England and exhibited at the 
Zoo in 1876. This exhibition of 
Indian animals raised the number 
of admissions to the 
Gardens to 915,764, and 
the total receipts for 
the year were £34,955, 
the greatest amount ever taken 
at the Gardens in one year. Mr. 
Bartlett will be greatly missed 
by all the em- 
ployés of the 
Society, to 
whom he was 
most kind 
and just. He 
retires on a 
pension. 
