SOME ACCOUNT OF A YSSIT TO KNOWSLEY. 
477 
He ROW knows and feels that the most eminent have had to work and labour as 
he does himself. He is also assured of their sympathies, and by the enjoyment 
of their society receives a strong incentive to persevere, though perhaps secluded, 
and far removed from personal intercourse with any of kindred dispositions. 
But I am wandering from the object of this communication. We arrived at 
Knowsley about three o’clock, and after sending in our cards and tickets of 
admission, we were directed to the aviary. We were first shown into a square 
plot of ground surrounded by small buildings, and cages for various birds and 
animals. There were several Marsupial animals loose in this enclosure ; they 
seemed but little annoyed at our presence, and allowed us to approach close to 
them. There were several species of Deer, also free, and amongst them the Moos 
Deer presented to the Earl by the Zoological Society of Dublin. One small 
species of Antelope attracted our attention by its crouching towards a large fire in 
one of the buildings. It stood so close that on laying our hands on its back we 
were unable to stroke its skin on account of the heat. In this inclosure were 
several fine Vultures, amongst others two species of the rare and singular genus 
Percnopterus; also several very fine Eagles, including all the British species. 
Amongst the confined animals were several Opossums, a little family of that 
curious animal the Jerboa, some Kangaroo Rats, and several Armadillos. There 
was a fine specimen of the old English Mastiff in a kennel, and several other 
specimens of Dogs were running about the premised. One wretched little crea¬ 
ture without any observable hair upon its hide particularly drew our attention. 
But although the quadrupeds are worth attention, the birds form the greatest 
attraction in this collection. Most of the birds from tropical climates are kept in 
warm rooms, whilst others, less dependent for health on heat, were kept in ex¬ 
tensive cages, the wire-work of which extends over several hundred feet of ground. 
The water-birds were allowed to swim about freely in a large reservoir of water 
situated in the middle of the aviary. Amongst the smaller birds confined in 
cages were several interesting specimens. An African species of the genus 
ThamnopMlm attracted our immediate attention by its large deep yellow eye, 
which, contrasted with its dark purple plumage, gave quite a new character to 
the bird. In size it is something less than the Common Starling, and exceedingly 
elegant in form. It is the only specimen alive in this country. There were also 
various forms of the American hard-billed birds; likewise some beautiful speci¬ 
mens of the American Thrush, commonly called the American Robin \_Turdus 
migratorius .— Ed.] ; these, we were informed, had been bred in the Aviary. 
Several small birds from Australia, amongst them the Vanga destructor, a species 
of the Shrike family, whose extraordinary powers of voice were fully exhibited. 
Also a species of the beautiful genus Euplectes. Amongst the Scansorial birds 
were several rare and beautiful specimens. There was a living Red-billed Toucan 
No. 15, Vol IL 3 R 
