on his Visit to Australia.



139



secret which, by the way, is jealously guarded. I think however

that the secret is contained in the one word “climate.” Brush-

turkeys have been reared successfully in the very adverse climate

of London, so there should be no difficulty about breeding them

wholesale in Australia, and doubtless the reason the other Aus¬

tralian Zoos have not succeeded is because they have never really

tried.


Quails of the commoner Australian species were here, and

the Stubble (C. pectoralis) and Swamp ( Syncecus austialis) have

bred. Bronze-wings, Partridge Pigeons and Plumed Doves were

also in this aviary.


The Eagles’ aviary, a circular building divided by numerous

partitions radiating from the centre, contained Wedge-tailed and

White-bellied Sea Eagles, while one compartment was occupied

by a fine pair of Mallee Fowl or Lowans (. Lipoa ocellata ), and

another contained a couple of hybrids between the Monaul and

Silver Pheasant.


The Waders’ pond is prettily situated with a background

of bamboos, and contained several European Flamingoes, a pair

of Black-necked Swans and Spur-winged Plovers. The Flamin¬

goes do not thrive very well, the Director’s explanation being

that the climate is too cold for them ; but as they do well in the

colder counties of England, some other reason must be looked

for.


I noticed several specimens of the Australian Stone-plover

or Thick-knee (Burhinus grailarms'), as well as White and Straw¬

necked Ibises.


Among the animals that have bred successfully in the

Melbourne Zoo may be mentioned Lions, Tigers, Leopards,

Brown Bears, several species of Monkeys, including the common

Marmozet, Crested Porcupine, African Tortoises, Tiger-snakes,

Ostriches, Emus and Australian Cranes.


I looked in vain for either the Platypus or the Lyre Bird,

both of which, I was told, have lived in the Gardens. There is a

small enclosure containing a pond with an island in the middle,

and this is labelled “ Platypus Pond.” I believe there was once

a living Ornithorhynchus paradoxus there for a short time.


Polar Bears, of which a fine pair are exhibited, do very



