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with numerous roomy pens ; many Pheasants and innumerable Peafowl

live and breed there, as well as what made “ Rancho Sespe ” famous

in the avicultural world—a breeding pair of Ceram Cassowaries and

their offspring. The male and the female live in adjoining pens, but

separately : they can only be safely put together when the female is

in breeding condition, and for a few hours at a time. Afterwards, the

cock, much the’ smaller bird of the two, sits on the eggs and rears the

young. In 1934 two were bred and they look now almost like adults.

Last year the hen killed the chicks through the wire partition, so that

now the male and his brood are removed farther away. This year

there is another fine chick. This achievement is almost unique in

aviculture, as there are only a very few records of Cassowaries

breeding in European zoos. Mr. W. Honsinger supervises with the

greatest care and keenness the Rancho Sespe collection.


The least said of the very poor public zoo of Los Angeles the

better, but there is an excellent one at San Diego, very cleverly

managed by Mrs. B. Benchley. It is very remarkable that a city of

150,000 inhabitants has been able to promote and can sustain such

an important establishment.


The San Diego Zoo occupies a large piece of ground in Balboa

Park, all artificially wooded (mostly eucalyptus and acacias), with

deep gullies and steep hills, very picturesque. There are some very

good new buildings, but the greatest part of the accommodation is-

of the roomy, semi-wild, outdoor sort. There are excellent and rare

mammals, including two wonderful mountain Gorillas ; but the bird

collection is particularly important. Parrots, particularly Lories,

(there is a hybrid Eos histrio X E. horned), are very numerous, all

kept in outdoor aviaries, many breeding regularly. Doves and small

birds are also very interesting, and will soon be moved to new and

better quarters. A pond is stocked with some Waterfowl and, during

the winter, is crowded with wild migrants, mostly Pintails ; it took

these birds only a couple of years to find this quite small artificial piece

of water, hidden under trees. A special feature of the zoo is the two

immense flying cages, built on steep slopes over large trees. One measures.

150 by 50 ft., and accommodates a mixed collection of large birds, among,

which are a Frigate Bird, which has lived there now for eight years r



