198 Bird Notes from the Zoological Ga?de?is.


person within the enclosure; but he rarely attacked his com¬

panions the ducks, although he showed distinct animosity

towards any bird that had much white about it. A pair of

Rajah Sheldrakes had to be removed for this reason.


When I first took up my duties at the Gardens the old

male Black-necked Swan had been kept for some time in one

of the small duck paddocks, where he spent most of his time

waddling up and down the gravel path endeavouring to fight

with some Whooper Swans in the next inclosure. I found that

he had developed large warts on the base of his feet, which

made him quite lame. He was, therefore, removed to the pond

at the rear of the Fellows Pavilion, where he made advances

towards a female black Swan. Soon, however, I was able to

procure a mate for him of his own species, but I did not dare

to put the pair on the Three-island pond in case they should

persecute the defenceless Flamingoes.


As soon as the new pond at the Western end of the Gar¬

dens was completed however, the Flamingoes were removed

thither and the Swans placed on the Three-island pond. Last

spring they nested but without result, the eggs proving addled.

This year they made a large nest on one of the islands, the hen

laying four eggs, two of which hatched after six weeks incuba¬

tion. These are the first young birds of this species to be

hatched at the Zoo. since 1S79.


The old dilapidated aviary near the Apes' House has been

entirely rebuilt and formed into a six-compartment aviary, which

will be known as the “ Summer Aviary.” Each compartment

has a small pond and a shelter shed, and the whole is covered

with wire-netting of five-eights inch mesh, so that the smallest

birds can be kept. It is the best aviary we have had for breed¬

ing, since it is so arranged that the birds can be fed and watered

without being in the least disturbed, and we hope to have con¬

siderable success in the coming breeding season.


Of recent arrivals the most noteworthy are contained in a

small collection of birds from Colombia, presented by Mr. W. K.

Pomeroy, containing a very fine young Harpy Eagle, a pair of

very rare Purple Jays (Cyanocorax affinis'), two Golden Hang-



