NOTES ON ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS. 293 



One South American Mudfish {Lepidusiren paradoxa) ; pre- 

 sented by the Goeldi Museum of Para, Sept. 4th, 1908. 



(ii) Crystal Palace, Sydenham. 



In September, 1908, I visited the Crystal Palace, and was 

 most impressed by the number of wild birds to be seen in the 

 grounds. The restorations of Extinct Animals (though naturally 

 open to criticism in the new light thrown by palseontological 

 discoveries since the days when Hawkins made them) are also 

 very impressive and of great historical-zoological interest. I 

 also saw the Aquarium and the Leadbetter menagerie, then on 

 exhibition at Sydenham. 



The Crystal Palace Aquarium proper only consists of ten 

 wall-tanks and four table-tanks, but a small menagerie and some 

 aviaries are attached to it. The collection of live animals on 

 Sept. 28th, 1908, comprised twenty-two Monkeys representing 

 eight common species, one Piing-tailed Lemur, one Palm- Civet, 

 one SuricatCj two Badgers, many domestic Rats, Guinea-pigs 

 and Eabbits, specimens of fifty- three species of birds (including 

 eighty-one individual Parrots), about thirteen reptiles of seven 

 species (the most remarkable being two Crocodiles of a species 

 seldom seen in captivity in Europe, possibly Crocodilus palustris, 

 but I did not have an opportunity of examining them criti- 

 cally), one Toad, Newts of two species, one white Axolotl, and 

 representatives of eighteen species and varieties of fresh-water 

 fish. 



The Leadbetter collection deserves longer notice. It was 

 formed by Mr. Piobert Leadbetter at Hazlemere Park in Buck- 

 inghamshire, where I believe many wild animals, including 

 Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Wolves, Jackals, Bears, and Zebra, 

 were bred with success. When I saw them exhibited at the 

 Crystal Palace the animals all appeared to be in excellent con- 

 dition. A good barrier had been erected to keep the visitors at 

 a proper distance from the animals, and the following notice 

 was posted up : "The Public are cautioned not to feed, touch, 

 or ANNOY the Animals." If this rule was posted and enforced in 

 all menageries the mortality of wild animals in captivity would 

 be greatly reduced. 



This Leadbetter menagerie is unfortunately no longer in 



