154 THE AUSTRALIAN .. NATURALIST. 
tween 1500 and 2000, and a most noticeable feature is their ex- 
treme tameness, testifying to the enlightened treatment of their 
owner. 
The remarkable Mexican Azolotl,* the tadpole or so-called 
laval stage of the Salamander Ablystoma tigrinum, which pos- 
sesses gills, and for some unknown reason breeds in this stage, 
though it ultimately loses the gills and passes into the giil-less 
mature state, was represented by healthy specimsns. The Cali- 
fornian “Water-dog” Diemyctylus torosus was also shown 
Various newts and several examples of the giant toad Bufo 
vulgaris var japonicus, were in a thriving condition. The toad 
eats snails, and will only touch these when living. When a 
snail (H. aspera) was placed in front of the toad the latter gazed 
fixedly at the snail for about a minute, and then with a lightning- 
like flick had the snail in its mouth, then with a second flick swai- 
lowed it whole. 
Of that lovely and extremely rare bird, the Kagu (Rhinochetus 
jubatus), known only from New Caledonia, there was a nuinber 
of specimens, which came forward with most graceful antics to 
feed on snails. Twenty years ago these birds laid an egg and 
then another, as up to that time the egg was unknown to science; 
Mr. Finckh presented them tothe Australian Museum. They 
were figured and decribed in Records Aust. Mus., Vol. iv., 1902. 
After 16 years’ effort a chick was successfully reared, and thus 
the life history of the bird became known. The chick was 
figured and described in “The Emu,” Vols. iv., v., and xiv. It 
is interesting to note that a photo. of this charming bird sent to 
Paris by Mr. Finekh was used in designing the New Caledonia 
postage stamps. 
Two fine healthy tortoises, Testudo radiata, were objecis of 
much interest, feeding. on fruit. Some extremely tame “.Tack- 
asses,” parrots and other birds were amongst the pets. The 
methods of breeding live food for the fish, such as the larvae of 
Enchytraeus albides, EE Tae and Mosquito larvae, were ex- 
plained in detail. 
Very much of what was on display is rarely if ever to be seen 
elsewhere, and obviously Mr. Finekh’s notable success is due to 
his never attempting to keep anything in captivity unless he 
can give it every comfort, and as near natural conditions as pos- 
‘sible, and to the infinite pains which he takes in attending to 
‘every detail personally. Mr. Finckh’s hobby is a labour of 
* Mexican, Play in the water. 
