An Emperor Penguin in Europe



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with the 1932 No. 2 pair it was not until the hen started sitting that

the trouble began.


In each case it was quite definite—it is that the cock takes a sudden

dislike to his sons and daughters, and he is not the least backward

about showing it either. When this happens they must be removed

at once, if not, he will save any trouble by doing it himself, but to

a better land ! It is unusual for this to take place before the young

can “ do ” for themselves, I understand, and it has certainly been

so here.


Young birds learn to eat Millet Sprays before anything else, there¬

fore it is well to supply them with plenty before the trouble begins

and after they have been removed. I hope to carry on with Cuban

Finches in 1933, as they are very interesting and likeable in every way ;

the sort of bird to which the critical visitor who knows nothing about

birds, takes a fancy at once.


There is an unusual state of affairs, the reason for which has so

far eluded me—it is that hen Cuban Finches can be obtained more

easily than cocks. Are they imported in larger numbers, or are the cocks

more delicate ? Possibly the answer is neither of these, but that the

cocks are such devils for fighting among themselves, they kill each

other off. It would be interesting to have an importer’s views on this

point.



AN EMPEROR PENGUIN IN EUROPE


On 3rd April there arrived in the London Docks, en route for

Hamburg, a consignment of Penguins from the Falkland Islands,

and amongst them was an example of the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes

forsteri), the first of its kind to reach Europe. Mr. Sidney Castang

met the collection for Messrs. Hagenbeck and, at my request, measured

this bird. He writes me : “ The Emperor Penguin was 32} inches

high when I measured it in the box and, of course, it was not standing

quite upright. I should think when he stretched his neck it would

make him 3 or 4 inches higher.”


The Emperor Penguin is considerably larger than the King Penguin

(A. patagonica), and is found in the Antarctic Ocean, breeding very



