CHAPTER X 



JARDIN ZOOLOGIQUE, GHENT, FOUNDED 1851 : 

 DIRECTOR, M. NIEPELS 



It was simply pouring with rain when I left Brussels 

 to visit the Zoological Garden at Ghent ; but, as luck 

 would have it, I had scarcely paid my franc and passed 

 the turnstile into the Garden when the rain ceased and 

 the sun popped in and out of clouds. 



Passing a duck-pond covered with pochard, the 

 visitor comes to a cafe and the usual concert-hall 

 found in all zoological gardens on the Continent. In 

 front of the hall is a large open space with a band- 

 stand in the middle. Just beyond is the parrot and 

 small-bird house, in which one of the parrots was 

 imitating a cuckoo to perfection. In the centre of 

 this house was a large case containing stuffed animals 

 and birds, which had lived at some time or other 

 in the Garden. Close by was a large pheasant and 

 peacock aviary, with indoor pens fitted with plate- 

 glass sides. 



After passing a quantity of poultry pens, the next 

 objects which attract the visitor's attention are the 

 well-filled brown-bear cages. Behind them, in a house 

 rather difficult to find, is a remarkably fine Indian 

 elephant. We next come to a pretty pond with a 



