THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 8 GARDENS. 151 



No doubt many other rare birds have from time to time been met with, 

 but unfortunately I have not got the means for recalling them. — 

 L. B. Monritz (6, Esmond Eoad, Bedford Park, W.). 



PISCES. 



Fecundity of Fishes. — The fecundity of many fishes is well known, 

 and on considering the subject one must be struck with the thought 

 of the countless number of eggs that never reach maturity. In 

 December last a female Perch (Perca fluviatilis) of just over three 

 pounds weight was given me for preservation, and on extracting the 

 pouch containing the spawn I found it weighed over nine ounces ; 

 the ova were very small, and I suppose, at that season, in an appa- 

 rently undeveloped state, as I am informed the spawning does not take 

 place before April or May. — G. B. Corbjn (Ringwood, Hants). 



[The late Frank Buckland found the number of eggs in two speci- 

 mens of this fish as follows : — Weight of fish, 3 lb. 2 oz. ; eggs, 

 155,620. Weight of fish, 8 oz. ; eggs, 20,592. It is also recorded 

 that upwards of 280,000 have been taken from a half-pound fish 

 (cf. Zool. 1899, p. 342.— Ed.] 



THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S GARDENS. 



The spring always brings interesting additions to the Zoological 

 Gardens in the form of newly-born young. The first to make their 

 appearance this year are three litters of puppies in the Wolf-dens, 

 namely, one of Dingos, one of hybrid Dingo and Wolf, and one of 

 Wolves. The latter were whelped by the American Timber Wolf 

 bitch, who has proved herself in past years a good breeder but a bad 

 rearer of young. Last spring her litter of eight was divided, four 

 being given to a Colley, who raised them successfully, and four left 

 with the mother, who brought up only two. This year also there are 

 eight pups, but, as the result of last year's experiment, two of them 

 are entrusted to the mother, and the remaining six to a foster, who has 

 one of her own pups. as well. It remains to be seen which of the two 

 bitches will give the best results. Amongst the Herbivora have been 

 born a young male Eland and a Bactrian Camel of the same sex. The 

 former is the more valuable asset, but too closely resembles the calf of 

 a domestic Cow to be very attractive to the public. The Camel, on 

 the contrary, is a quaint little caricature of his mother, and will well 

 repay a visit. 



