N. Wharton-Tigar—London Zoo Notes



293



Helmeted Guinea Fowl, the Bed Jungle Fowl, and the very familiar

Grey-backed Trumpeter are outstanding. The tamest of all though

are the Screamers, of which three species are shown ; the Common,

the Horned, and the White-cheeked or Derby an. They are excessively

curious and if one were so inclined he might have one sit in his lap

any time.


We finish with the names of those birds which really should begin

the list, namely the Ostriches and their kin. Six fine Emus and three

Cassowaries, the Bennett’s, the One-wattled, and the Australian,

completes the census of the birds of the Brookfield Zoo.



LONDON ZOO NOTES


By N. Wharton-Tigar


To-day there is such great interest taken in Pheasants that, prompted

by the Secretary Miss Knobel, I decided to tell readers of the collection

at Begent’s Park.


Bealizing my ignorance on the subject, I approached Dr. Vevers,

who was most kind and helpful, and recommended the Monograph

of the Pheasants, by William Beebe, as a reference book, and also

gave instructions for Keeper E. Stimpson to show me the birds which

he was good enough to do.


I therefore made my way to the Pheasantries, and in passing was

thrilled by the sight of the young Stanley Crane now grown very

big, and also at the far end with a beautiful tame Lion cub playing

a cunning game with a child visitor !


However, the Pheasants. At once Tragopans caught my eye.

There are three varieties of these. Keeper Stimpson informed me

that the Crimson-horned ( Tragopan satyra Linnaeus), S.E. Himalayas,

was the most beautiful, among a trio of surpassing loveliness, perhaps

it is.


Next we examined Temmincks ; very tame, and a glorious red

[Tragopan temmincki J. E. Gray), Central China, and Blyth’s [Tragopan

hlythi Yerdon). We then came to the Monaul Pheasant [Lophophorus

impeyanus) from South Kashmir. Beebe describes this bird as being



