100 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
sparrow clubs to confine their attention to the 
house sparrow. The sparrow has never been 
popular with the farmer. A few years ago Mr. 
Joseph Nunn, an extensive farmer in Cam- 
bridgeshire, paid a tribute to this most abused 
of birds. "Of all our British birds," he wrote, 
"the sparrow is the most useful to the farmer. 
These birds are the greatest destroyers of in- 
sects and the best ky-catchers we have. I ad- 
mit they eat a little of my corn, but when I 
weigh against it the good thep are doing by 
eating the weeds of harmful seeds in my stubble 
fields, the balance quickly turns in my favour." 
THAT Mr. R. A. Harper Gray, Adviser in Agri- 
cultural Zoology, Armstrong College, in the 
last lecture of a special course which he has 
been giving in the Town Hall at Durham, dealt 
with some common insect pests occurring in 
allotments and methods of dealing with them. 
There are two methods of checking insect at- 
tacks — 1st, preventive measures; 2nd, the ap- 
plication of liquid washes or dry substances 
which will destroy the pests while they are at 
work on the plants. One of the most import- 
ant preventive measures is the winter destruc- 
tion of those small brown cases which are 
known as "puparia" (each containing the pupa 
of a maggot) and which are so abundant in the 
soil after an attack of cabbage root maggot, 
"rust" in carrots, celery fly, etc. The land 
should be turned over thoroughly so that the 
pupae will be exposed to the attacks of. birds, 
which devour large numbers greedily. As a 
winter insecticide gas lime is one of the best to 
use when the land can rest, but it should be 
used with great care. An application of 2i to 4 
ozs. per square yard may be used with safety. 
As to special measures, an apylication of 21 ozs. 
■of nalhthalene has droved satisfactory in get- 
ting rid of wireworms from a badly infested 
garden. The naphthalene, in powder, should 
be thoroughly worked into the 'soil, and it 
seems to be much more effective if a heavy 
rainfall follows, or if the giound is drenched 
by artificial means. Soot and lime, spread 
around the plants, have been used with some 
success in dealing with the cabbage root fly. 
A mixture of lime, soot, and sulphur (in equal 
quantities, and made" in the form of a paste 
with water, into which the roots are dipped 
before planting, is beneficial. Carrots are often 
attacked bp the carrot fly after thinning. To 
prevent the eggs being laid a mixture of sand 
or ashes and paraffin, or carbolic acid, may be 
sprinkled over the plants (a cupful of the liquid 
toi a bucketful of sand of ashes). Mr. Gray 
will be glad to help allotment holders to get 
rid of insect pests if specimens of the insect, 
along with some of the soil, leaves, stem, etc., 
are sent to him (not in a matchbox) at 96, St. 
George's Terrace, Newcastle. 
THAT at a meeting of the Zoological Society of 
London, held at Regent's Park, it was reported 
that among the 19 additions made to the men- 
agerie in February were two Stanley cranes 
from South Africa, and one black-necked 
crowned crane from West Africa, presented by 
Mr. W. H. St. Quintin, F.F.S., and an Ameri- 
can bison. The number of visitors to the gar- 
dens during February was 34,451, an increase 
of 5,000' as compared with the corresponding 
THAT a correspondent writes : — i 
"In the reign of George III. there was 
a Royal Menagerie in Richmond Park. I 
think that it was there that the first Kan- 
garoos were born in England. Could you 
help me to some knowledge of this Men- 
agerie?" 
Perhaps one of my numerous readers can give 
me above information, for which I would be 
thankful. 
THAT Dr. Henry Woodward, the distinguished 
geologist, who will be eighty-six this year, is 
selected for retirement, with others, from the 
Council of the Zoological Society, at the forth- 
coming meeting of that body on the 29th inst. 
In 190'1 Dr. Woodward relinquished his position 
at the British Museum as Keeper of Geology, 
which he had held for upwards of twenty years, 
his connection with the Department dating as 
far back as 1858. Among the Fellows of the 
Society who are recommended for election to the 
Council are Lord Queenborough, who will be 
remembered as Mr. Almeric Paget, M.P., and 
Mr. Adrian Pollock, the Chamberlain of the 
City Corporation. 
THAT fifteen candidates were elected this week 
Fellows of the Zoological Society of London. 
The visitors to the Gardens during the past 
year numbered 88,6321, an increase of 11,460, 
and the receipts at the gates ^71,601, an ad- 
vance of ^315. 
THAT Mr. David Ezra writes from Calcutta : — 
" I have much pleasure' in informing you 
that I have to-day sent you a money order 
for £1 (as I thought this is the safest way 
to remit) being my subscription in advance 
for two years commencing from 15th May, 
1918, to t he above Magazine. Kindly ack- 
nowledge receipt. I look forward tx> it, and 
find the paper most interesting reading, and 
wish your Magazine every success it so well 
deserves." 
Once more I thank Mr. David Ezra for his kind 
wishes. 
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