156 i GUIDE TO THE 
Division No. 12 has a variety of birds, vis., the Black 
Partridge, Francolinus vulgaris; the White-crested Jay- 
thrush, Garrulax leucolophus; the Laughing Jay-thrush, 
Garrulax chinensis , and the Pied Starling, Stimiopastor 
contra. The first of these thrushes is the bird which 
is so frequently heard in large flocks in the Himalayan 
forests, at elevations from 2,000 to 6,000 feet, generally by 
the sides of mountain streams, “ bursting out in a chorus of 
most discordant laughter, quite startling at first, and 
screaming and chattering for some time.” 
Leaving the Surnomoyee House, the visitor should 
return eastwards towards 
The Ezra House. 
This handsome edifice was erected by Mr. E. J. D. Ezra, 
one of the Members of the Garden Committee, for 
the reception of Giraffes and Zebras. Some time be¬ 
fore, Mr. Ezra had presented a pair of Giraffes to the 
Gardens, and the animal now here is one of them, the 
other unfortunately having died suddenly. It will be 
noticed that this giraffe has a large airing ground en¬ 
closed by an iron railing, on the western side of the house. 
It is also intended to enclose another piece of ground on 
the eastern side of the house, as a run for Zebras, so soon 
as some of these animals, are obtained. 
The Giraffe, Camelopardalis girajpa, has its place in 
the Animal Kingdom between the Antelopes and the 
Deer. Its designation of Camelopard has reference to 
its fancied external resemblance to the form of the 
Camel, and to the spotted coat of the Pard. The Giraffe 
has the distinction of being the tallest of all living 
animals. As already mentioned, its horns differ from 
