Reviews.



39



extends around tlie entire building, making it possible to keep

all the cleaning and feeding operations out of sight.


At the north end of the building the office of the Curator

is situated, and above this is a large glass-roofed laboratory. The

keepers’ and store rooms are at the South end, and over these are

three additional rooms of great value as hospitals or for breeding

birds.



REVIEWS.


STRANGE PETS.*


Those who have kept birds or mammals under suitable

conditions in captivity have found how very much more can be

learned of their habits in this state than in any other way, and

when people tell us that it is cruel to keep wild animals in

confinement they certainly do not know what they are talking

about. It is only those who are devoted to animals and who

study their every need, who ever keep these creatures, whether

they be birds, mammals, or reptiles. The book before us is the

outcome of a long experience of birds and beasts kept by a great

lover of animals on his estate in Dumfries, and ever} r page is of

absorbing interest to those who, like the author, are fond of

animals. There is much in the book that reminds us of Frank

Buckland, who was himself a friend of our author’s, and is men¬

tioned several times in the book we are now considering, which,

besides treating of animals in captivity, contains a great many

anecdotes of country life in general.


The portion of the book which treats of the author’s

avicultural experience concerns us mostly here, but besides birds

most of the smaller mammals and maiyr reptiles found a home in

Mr. Bell’s menagerie.


The author commences his book with an account of his

Emus and Rheas, which takes up no less than 37 pages, and is of.

very great interest. He was not very successful with Rheas, his

first so-called pair proved to be two females, and three other

birds, guaranteed as males were purchased, with no better result



'My Strange Pets, and other memories of Country Life, by Richard Bell. William

Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and Loudon. Price 6/- nett.



