The parrots are, perhaps, the most popular 
group of birds—peoples of all nations having 
high regard for their intelligence and power of 
speech, and also for their attractive—if 
sometimes gaudy—plumage. In the new side 
cages of this house will be seen examples of 
the African grey parrot, the most distinguished 
linguist of the family, while the Amazons 
from South and Central America, in which 
green is the predominating colour, include 
several gifted talkers. 
Other notable parrots include the cockatoos 
of Australasia and the macaws from Central 
and South America. One of the macaws is 
worthy of special mention as it is an unusual 
hybrid between the blue-and-yellow and the 
red-and-yellow species bred in the San Diego 
Zoo, California. 
In addition to the parrots, a number of other 
interesting birds are housed here. New 
arrivals are the Javan pied hornbills with 
their grotesque-looking bills which, in spite 
of their clumsy appearance are so light in 
weight that the birds can easily catch grapes 
with the tips. These birds nest in holes in 
trees and in order that the female shall have 
added protection the male bird nearly seals 
up the opening with mud, using his bill for the 
job. While the female is sitting she is entirely 
dependant on her mate for all food. 
Several owls are shown including a pair of 
Photo by Leo Carter ^Vest African ^Voodford s, a white-faced 
long-crested hawk-eagle scops, and two little owls which were found 
in a deserted nest at Uppermill, nr. Oldham. 
The large flight aviary in the house is stocked with a large variety of birds including 
budgerigars, finches, waxbills, weavers, and British birds. 
Before leaving the Parrot House attention must be drawn to one or two of the small 
mammals accommodated here. The kinkajou “ Sammy ” arrived in September, 1933 
having lived in a Glasgow pet shop for nine 
years before that! The armadillos are quaint 
little animals from South and Central 
America having thick bony plates and 
shields on the dorsal surfaces of the body. 
Like the kinkajou, the armadillos are 
nocturnal and omniverous, feeding on a 
wide variety of food from flesh, eggs, 
insects, fruits, berries, etc., etc. A fine 
African serval, a black genet and a crab¬ 
eating raccoon will also be found in the 
lower cages. 
HALL OF LIVING JEWELS 
This attractive new feature will be found 
at the top of the Paddock House. It is a 
series of glass fronted cages where some 
of the world’s most beautiful birds are 
displayed. In order that these birds may 
be given a change of environment from 
time to time, additional cages are provided 
“ behind the scenes,” so that the occupants 
of the show cages may at any time be 
transferred and replaced by others which 
were not on public exhibition. 
African and Indian sunbirds. South Photo by Leo Carter 
American humming-birds and small a HUMMING BIRD ON THE WING 
Twenty-two 
finches, etc., are usually shown here. 
An interesting experiment tried out 
in one of the Paddock House cages is 
the housing together of a pair of great 
anteaters with a sulphur-and-white- 
breasted toucan. These mammals 
with outsize noses and the bird 
with the “ banana ” bill agree 
together very well, but the bird 
takes care to keep out of reach of 
the anteaters’ powerful claws. 
BIRDS OF PREY 
On the south side of the Giraffe 
House will be found a row of cages 
containing various birds of prey like 
eagles, vultures, buzzards and owls. 
The largest birds here are two 
Nubian vultures with wing-spans 
of nine feet. The long-crested 
hawk-eagle is perhaps the most 
handsome and it is also one of the 
rarer birds of Africa which do not 
often appear in zoological collec¬ 
tions. The bateleur eagle with his 
nearly black plumage and red face 
is one of the most amusing birds 
in the Zoo for he rarely fails to 
greet his human friends by a special display which involves lifting both wings high above 
the head and crowing like a cock at the same time. 
Photo by G. H. Ashworth , A.R.P.S. 
SULPHUR-AND-WHITE BREASTED TOUCAN 
WATERFOWL 
On the round pool will be seen a number of attractive waterfowl including the exquisite 
little red-breasted geese from Siberia; the Chinese mandarin duck and the Carolina duck 
of the United States. The drakes have special breeding plumage which is worn from 
about January until about 
June. For the remaining part 
of the year the drakes resemble 
the ducks in appearance. 
Other ducks kept here include 
pintail and mallard. Swans 
will be found on the large 
boating lakes. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN 
ENCLOSURE 
Photo by Miss Anne Jackson , F.R.P.S. 
BLACK-FOOTED OR JACKASS PENGUINS 
Within this area are the 
following birds ; black-footed 
or jackass penguins from 
Dassan Island, off the South 
African coast. The penguins 
are not often heard calling but 
when they do become vocal it 
will be noted that they do 
indeed bray like the donkey. 
Penguins are fed daily on 
herring or whiting, which 
must be of the best quality 
possible. White pelicans (also 
fish eating birds) from India, 
and a pair of the rarer Javan 
or specifer peafowl. Black¬ 
shouldered peafowl will be 
found in the Kangaroo En¬ 
closure on the Longsight 
Avenue. 
Twenty-three 
