P. C. Mackie—Visit to Professor Ghigi, Bologna



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VISIT TO PROFESSOR GHIGI, BOLOGNA


6th SEPTEMBER, 1937

By P. C. Mackie


My friend, that ardent “ Phasianist ” Mr. P. J. Lambert, mentioned

to me early this year that it would be interesting if I made

“ Avicultural Notes ” during my summer holiday abroad, and on

6th September it was my pleasure, in company with my wife, to visit

Professor Ghigi, of Bologna, Italy, for one, all too short, afternoon.

But were I to write of all my wife and I saw on this occasion, the notes

would indeed be more copious than even Mr. Lambert considered

reasonable.


I will omit a detailed description of our arrival in Bologna and our

endeavours to inform our Italian taxi-driver that we wished to visit

the Institute of Zoology of Bologna University, for the man had a laud¬

able desire to show all the various institutes of this world-famous and

most ancient of ’varsities, and took us the round cf all its many depart¬

ments before eventually leading us to where we desired. Still one

must appreciate his endeavours to interest us and his enthusiasm

for his city can have been his only interest for his final account was

less than Is. !


At the main building of the University we were escorted through

magnificent chambers to Professor Ghigi and were pleased to discover

that be speaks English exceedingly well—for few Italians do !


Professor Ghigi first showed us the imposing rooms and halls

of the University, and we were then driven by car to the Institute of

Zoology, where we spent a considerable time.


The inner courtyard was planted with shrubs and there were

numerous aviaries along the sides and fishponds with running water

near the centre. Running loose were several Reeve’s, Silvers, etc.,

and also some extremely beautiful Vulturine Guinea-fowl, which the

wuiter energetically pursued amongst the shrubbery with his camera

in order to group them for a photograph. A somewhat lively Chukor

Partridge cleared the surrounding wall into the main highway and an

attendant was dispatched in pursuit. Ceylon Junglefowl were also

in evidence in this courtyard.



