The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-07 00:00:00

Arrivals at the Zoological Gardens.

There have been few arrivals of late, for donors abroad
generally contrive that the specimens they transmit should
not reach England in midwinter. A South African baboon
(Cynocephalus porcarius) may be mentioned, and two or
three of the commoner monkeys ; also a few birds of no
particular note, as one of the Australian "piping crows,"
as they are commonly designated.
The latter compose an easily recognisable group of birds,
with which most visitors to the gardens must be familiar.
They aro not crows at all, nor are they magpies (as some-
times denominated), and as little are they connected by
immediate affinity with the family of shrikes, to which
some systematists refer them. They constitute, rather,
to all intents and purposes, a distinct group by themselves,
which is . peculiar to the Australian region, and which
divides into three well-marked genera, one of them being
distinguished by having a strong hook at the extremity of
the bill, and by highly predatory habits, but great variety
in the form of the bill occurs in most natural groups among
the passerine birds, and the shrike-like modification of
that organ, accompanied by a strong predatory propensity,
is found again'and again, in widely different natural sub-
groups, that have little else in common. In general, the
birds now under consideration have a remarkably flute-like
tone of voice, and rapid utterance of a confused jumble of
notes, not at all suggestive of either one of the particular
affinities refer ed to. Ono species (Cymnorhina organi-
cunt) is described by Mr. Gould to pour forth, when
perched on the dead branches of the tree soon after day-
break, a succession of notes of the strangest description
that can be imagined, much resembling the sounds of a
hand-organ out of tune, which has obtained for it the
colonial name of organ-bird, It is very easily tamed ; and
as it possesses the power of imitation in an extraordinary
degree, it may be readily taught to whistle various
tunes, as well as to articulate words. It consequently soon
becomes a most amusing as well as an ornamental bird for
the aviary or cage. Most of the species are peculiar to
Australia proper, and, as the same naturalist remarks, they
are chiefly confined to the southern portion of that island
continent, their geographical range being limited to the
country comprised between the 25th and 40th degrees of
south latitude, and their great stronghold being the most
southern portion of Australia, the islands in Bass's Straits,
and Tasmania According to Mr. Gould, the birds of this
group seek their food in or near the ground, sometimes in
swampy situation& and oven on the sea shore ; at others on
the most sterile plains, far distant from water. Grasshop-
pers and insects of every order are eaten by them with avi-
dity, and to these grain-seeds and fruit are frequently
added. They hop with remarkable agility over the broken
surface of the ground, and leap from branch to branch with
great alacrity. Their flight is feeble, and they seldom
mount high in the air, except for the purpose of crossing a
gully, or for passing from one part of the forest to another,
and then merely just over the tops of the trees ; during
flight they usually utter a peculiar shrill cry, which is fre-
quently repeated and answered by other birds of the same
troop, for they mostly flit about in small companies of from
four to six in number, apparently the parents and their
offspring of the year. All the species occasionally descend
to the cultivated grounds, orchards, and gardens of the
settlers, and commit considerable havoc among their fruits
and grain. They usually build open, cup-shaped nests, and
the eggs are generally three, but are sometimes four, in
number. As observed in captivity these birds remind us
of the starling family more than that of the crows and
magpies ; except in the instance of the more shrike-like
genus (Cracticus), which is less terrone in its habits, and
predacious in a very high degree. Different species of the
group are rather numerously imported into this country,
and are therefore commonly to be had from the dealers.
Land and Water.

Alliance.. lira., 19 181
British North American, 461
Chartered Bank of India, Australia. and China. 171
Chartered )ler, of India, London, and China, 331 3 1
City, 15
Consolidated Bank, lira., 41 i
English and American, lira., 51
English, Scotch, and Australian Chartered, 17
English and Swedish, lira., 14
Imperial Bank, Urn., 251 61
Imperial Ottoman, lira., Rp 9
Land Mortgage Bank of India, lira., 21
Do. 5 per cent. Debentures. Mt. for 30 years, 82
London Bank of AlexL:o and S. America, lini.,l I
London and Brazilian (lim.), 331 2
I.ondon Chartered Banc of Australia, 211 2
London and County, 65 i
London Joint Stock, 431
London and South African. 14
London and t% estininster, 291 9
National Bank, 671
Oriental liana Corporation. 42 $
Provincial Banking Corporation, 11m., 41
Union of London, 454 41
MISCELLANEOUIL
Anglo-American Telegraph, 151 16
Berlin Water Works, lira.,
Ditto, new. 51 L
City Discount, btu, 21
City of Moscow Gas, lim , 171
East l scolunndti
ilt;iti:tr Land r at icoi
Credit Fonder of England lira.. 34 21
Crystal Palace, 29 3i 29 1
Ditto, Preference 102
Atzfiy.Ttsitan Corn, and Trading,
El udsonr'eselt aWy,
DEATH OF' A SCOTCII POI:77—Ft .-- be death is an-
nounced of Alexander Smith, a poet of some note in Scot- Ebbw Vsle, 10 i
Laudalnaelgittnd Finance, lira.. 31
ariefiliouse, Urn., 12f i
1im.,'51 5
land, which occurred on Saturday morning at Wardle near
securities, lira., 24i
Imperial Land Company of Marseilles, 11m., 24
Edinburgh. Ho was born on the 31st December, 1830, near
tional Financial :,ociety,llm., 4 3
Kilmarnock, where his father was a drawer of patterns,
a lace designer, and the lad having shown some literary
inclination, was destined for the ministry of the Presbyte- Lone' ,n
tt4lnuaenrcila(l Association, lim,yit
34
rian Established Church. A serious illness and adverse Ilidsaa Irrigaion)mannidb(,l'anaolm(r pne);,ceni t'. guaranteadbylni
family circumstances interfered with the continuance of d .an Government),
his theological course, and ho was apprenticed to the busi- ~,, Ditto (all), 11 ze
ness of lace designing. lie cultivated literature, however, i'\;
.!111.vnaalt Freehold. Land and Dock, 51
and from a work ho composed, "The Life Drama," lie for- /1-1? to, In
eNivs Discount
di; oaint 15, an?,e,m1.44.1
which ~..
21 is to 'll4
pay,_
warded some extracts to the Iluv. George Gilfillan, of Dun- Peel River Land and Minleiral, 35
dee, who obtained a place for them in the Critic. Ile, sub-- ingm„y Iron, _
sequent ' and 13, published a volume entitled " City Poems,
it Ditto, new, 74
other works, which obtained for him a wido celebrity
.1n
_Theyaanl AlAit Steam, 101 2
1834 Mr. Smith was appointed secretary of the Universif a Ocean
and Mersey 20/ _ _
of Edinburgh. Marine, insurance, lim., 5i
Universe Marine, insurance, lira., 2