4 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
for zoological purposes. In the gardens of fifty years hence 
it is safe to say that only a small fraction of the’ animals now 
shown will be procurable, and I think it likely that the chief 
plank in the Zoological Gardens of the future will be sea 
fauna. In getting new Gardens this must be given con- 
sideration. 
The individual habits of the animals in the Zoo are full 
of interest and instruction, and well repay study and observa- 
tion. Perhaps the first general characteristic noticed is play- 
fulness. Almost every specimen denotes a playful spirit in 
some way or other; even such a cumbrous beast as the ele- 
phant often performs tricks quite on its own initiative. The 
Carnivora, especially the cats and bears, are very fond of 
playing with a ball or with each other, and it is a common 
sight to see the cranes dancing around with bits of stick and 
evidently taking the greatest pleasure in going through the 
most extraordinary antics. ' 
Animals like company, and if it so happens that we 
cannot get two or more of one sort, we will have to put in 
some other variety for a playmate, and sometimes the most 
urlooked-for friendships are made in this way. I can well 
remember an instance of an old and very cross lion becoming 
fast friends with a small black-and-tan terrier which had un- 
wittingly followed a rat into his cage; the two were together 
for some years in the same cage (until the lion died), and it 
was curious to see the little dog lying across the big beast’s 
paws. 
BIRD NOTES. 
(By Launcelot Harrison.) 
PossiBLy owing to the dry season, the North Shore line has 
been visited this summer by several species which do not 
usually honour us. Early in spring a large flock of ‘‘black 
magpies”’ (S¢repera gracilina) haunted the Killara gardens, 
and a couple of pairs bred in the gullies on the Middle Har- 
bour side. Later on the pretty little white-shouldered cater- 
pillar-eater appeared in considerable numbers, and stayed to 
breed. Though this bird is a common summer visitor to 
the western suburbs, where it may be found every year with- 
out exception, I have not before seen it on our highlands. 
Another stranger was the dollar bird, some of which are still 
here. One pair reared a family in a large red gum in Killara, 
Park. Still another was the mountain thrush, which is now 
rarely found close to Sydney. I was somewhat surprised to 
