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least in my own experience, is an unique specimen of public

conveyance. The gauge is very narrow, and is traversed every

few minutes by little long cars drawn by pairs of really flying

little ponies, some Javanese, some Javanese and Shetland

crossed, for which the establishment is famed. In a few minutes

one is whisked through about half-a-mile of the Bois, across

several of its drives to the gates of the Jardiu. Here I always

descend, but the line is carried on through the Garden to

various stations, so that a bad walker may see most of it with

a minimum of fatigue.


The place has always had a great fascination for me.

I remember it quite in childhood, and delighted then, as I

delight now, in the great multitude of many species of birds,

especially of aquatic birds, which are seen together. I never

realized the exquisite beauty of Mandarin Ducks till I once saw

here 120 together on the water. I have known the Garden in

many phases of gradual progress. I had not seen it for three

years till this Autumn, when I spent parts of two days in it on

my way to and my return from more Southern regions. For

those of our Society who do not know it, or have not visited it

of late, I have jotted down these few notes.


The establishment is partially botanical. From each side

of the wide entrance-road, walks radiate off to fine tropical glass

houses ; but we are now only concerned with the birds, so keep¬

ing to the right we pass long fern houses, and soon come to an

aviary for Budgerigars. It is very shallow for its length, glazed

above, and leans against a heated Monkey-house. I have before,

as this year, observed that the large colony of its inmates look

chilly and less sprightly than the occupants of a more open

aviary, which quite confirms the opinion of many aviculturists

that Budgerigars are none the better for coddling. Among them

I observed two or three cock Redrump Parrakeets, in lovely con¬

dition and apparently of amiable disposition. This is interesting,

for some authorities give them very bad characters as persecutors

of smaller birds. I have a great favourite of the race, which I

bought years ago at the Antwerp Zoo. I have never trusted him

with other birds, for I must say he does not look amiably at them.

Why it should be so difficult, as I have found it, to obtain hens

of this breed, I cannot understand. From the Budgerigars’ aviary

we next come to a fine row of Pheasantries—well-arranged Sum¬

mer abodes, for Pheasants like shelter, but a little too shady for

Winter. I specially admired some Reeves’ and Elliott’s Pheasants,

some handsome Firebacks (Euplocamus veilloti) and above all a

splendid pair of Temminck’s Tragopans, as sleek and hard in



