Geoffery TI. Clark—Some Birds of the Veld



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was shared by three chimpanzees looking well and jolly. Next came

four aviaries with covered shelters and open flights, two occupied by

Waxbills and small Finches, one by Laughing Jackasses, Jays, and

Choughs, and the fourth by Doves. Here I noticed the beautiful

Bartlett’s Bleeding Heart Pigeon, the Blue-headed Ground Dove of

Cuba, and Australian Plumed Ground Doves. Across the lawn was

a large aviary with rocks built up at the back, over which water flowed

into a stream along the front. Here were Flamingos, Ducks, and

Blue Porphyrios. A greenhouse with the roof lined with plywood

had made a very good reptile house, with glass cages down the centre.

These were heated by electricity cunningly concealed in perforated

natural logs. The reptiles looked well and lively. Close by were

pairs of lions, leopards, and wolves, all looking well.


In a range of small wire enclosures containing concrete shelters

were Emus, old and young, kangaroos and wallabies of three species,

bears and capybaras. Further along were Crowned Cranes, Pheasants,

Vulturine Guineafowl, and Curassows of several species. Yarrell’s

Curassow struck me as being a very handsome sort, and being usually

tame would doubtless make a very good liberty bird for a garden.

There was also a large aviary with good cover of rhododendron clumps

in which were numerous Peafowl and four particularly good Brush

Turkeys.


An enclosure with a pond had Bar-headed Geese and Black Swans.


There is a cafe, pleasantly fresh and cool, where good cold food

is attractively served.



SOME BIRDS OF THE VELD


By Geoffery H. Clark


Life is made up of regretting lost opportunities, and I have never

ceased bemoaning the fact that I did not make better use of my time

in South Africa in studying the myriad bird life that goes to fill the

veld. Birds there were of every size and hue, but beyond learning

the local names (mostly Dutch, by the way) and in the case of birds

I wished for some reason to slay, their habits to a limited extent, I am



