2 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
SP oe de ey ee el 
rison). Mrs. Harrison forwarded a copy for presentation to 
the Club library. TR 
Lecrure.—Mr. A. S. Le Souéf read a paper, ‘‘Notes 
on Zoo Work.’’? His audience was especially interested in 
the lantern pictures of new ideas for animals in captivity in 
various parts of the world. 
NOTES ON ZOO WORK. 
(Abstract of Lecture by A. S. Le Souéf, November, 1909.) 
BEING among nature lovers, I will confine my remarks 
strictly to Animals and Birds, and leave out history and the 
more uninteresting parts of zoological work. 
The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales 
started as an acclimatisation body, with the object of intro- 
ducing useful fauna to the State. Goldfinches, linnets, star- 
lings, Californian quail, yellow-hammers, skylarks, Indian 
minahs, and ring-necked doves were turned out in’ the 
vicinity of Sydney, and all except the quail did well, especially 
the doves and skylarks, which now add life, beauty, and 
song to the parks near the city. The only animals intro- 
duced were deer, which were turned out in various parts of 
the State, but have not been of any great uSe or success, 
Fish were liberated in many rivers and streams, and included 
trout, perch, and carp. The present state of the inland 
fisheries bears tribute to the usefulness of this work. 
Coming to the Gardens proper: These were founded in 
1882 in their present situation, and have since been gradually 
brought up to their present stage, and have been throughout 
very well attended by the public. The collection varies from 
six to nine hundred specimens, and endeavours are made 
to maintain these in health and such comfort as is allowed 
for by the space at the command of the Council. As far as 
possible the exhibits are arranged in family groups, so ‘as to 
help the mind in gaining a fair idea of the variations among 
individual orders. Space has only allowed exhibits to be 
procured which are strictly interesting to the general public. 
Australian fauna and smaller animals and birds dare not 
shown to any great extent. i; si samen 
Let us try to follow the history of an animal from its 
wild state to the cage in the Zoo. Catchers have to go out 
in the more or less arid regions of Africa, or tropical jungles, 
or perhaps to the dreary Arctic lands to procure specimens ; 
but, as can be easily imagined, full-grown beasts are very 
seldom procured, and could not be handled if ‘they were. 
