lighter but stronger material for crate making. Laminated plywood has proved most suitably in this resuect and where necessary. can be metal lined. C. G. Haiwood, Transport Oficer,-The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London N. W.l, Great Britain.

PIGMY HIPPOPOTAMUSES BRED AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK, U.S.A.

Because the National Zoological Park had considerable success in raising Pygmy Hippopota- muses, it seems advisable to list the breeding record here. The first Pygmy Hippopotamus to come to the Zoo was a gift from Harvey Firestone, Sr., to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. It was known as “Billy”. In 1929 a mate, “Hannah”, was purchased. In 1940 the Smithsonian Institution- Firestone Expedition returned from Liberia with one young male, which died May 3, 1943, and one adult female, known as “Matilda”. Billy and Hannah

August 26, 1931, male, died August 27, 1931, killed by mother. August 21, 1932, male, died August 22, 1932, killed by mother. April 29, 1933, male, died April 29, 1933, killed by mother. May 8, 1938, female, sent to Cole Bros. Circus April 26, 1939. June 24, 1939, female, prematurely born, died June 25, 1939. February 25, 1940, female, died October 28, 1942. May 9, 1941, female, sent to Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, March 16, 1944. February 1, 1943, female, died February 2, 1943. February 20, 1945, male, sent to Miller Bros. Circus, January 7, 1950. December 21, 1945, female, died December 21, 1945. October 11, 1947, female, died February 11, 1948. March 12, 1950, female, sent to Catskill Game Farm, June 16, 1953. June 13, 1951, male, sent to Catskill Game Farm, June 16, 1953. April 26, 1953, female, died November 8, 1953. June 8, 1954, female, died June 23, 1955.

December 13, 1943, male, sent to Fort Worth (Tex.) Zoo. March 5, 1947, female (living in NZP). July 3, 1948, female (living in NZP). Deccniber 20, 1949, female, sent to Sydney, Australia, October 18, 1954. April 24, 1952, male, died October 8, 1952. October 2, 1953, female, died September 16, 1954. January 30, 1955, female, sent to John Seago, England, September 7, 1956. March 29, 1956, female, sent to L. Ruhe, New York, May 7, 1957. Matilda and two of hcr daughters are still living in thc National Zoological Park. Billy died on

Billy and Matilda

October 1 I , 1955, and Hannah on March 6, 1958. From Annual Rrport on The National Zoological Park, Washington, 1959.

BREEDING FLAMINGOS AT BASLE ZOO, SWITZERLAND Since we first bred Flamingos at Basle Zoo, we have always wondered why we could keep

these birds for so many years (our oldest specimens were imported in 1932) without their reproducing.

The reason for this appeared when we examined their old diet. This consisted mainly of boiled rice, wheat and dried shrimps-and consequently was low in proteins and very low in vitamins. Although the nutritional content was sufficient for keeping the adult birds alive, it was inadequate for bringing them into breeding condition. In all these years only one egg was laid (in 1940).

In 1956, scientific rations, rich in protein and complete in all the essential nutrients, were introduced throughout the Zoo. Since then the Flamingos have been given a diet which corresponds closely to a mash for laying hens which is commercially available all over the world. In July o that year it became obvious that the birds were trying to nest. The lawn where the birds wer

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kept was then flooded and a number of birds started to build nests. But when moulting started, this activity gradually ceased.

In 1957,s nests were built and 4 eggs laid but these were infertile. From 1958 onwards almost all our birds built nests. In 1960 we had 15 nests and 15 eggs. So far we have raised 3 Chilean and 3 Greater Flamingos. The low fertility rate of the eggs is explained by the pinioning of the birds, the male’s ability to copulate being somewhat impaired. Dr H. Wackernagel, Scientific Assistant, Bade Zoo, Switzerland.

-+-- HIPPOPOTAMUS MILK ANALYSIS

To date one of the main difficulties of hand-rearing baby hippos has been the difficulty of finding a suitable substitute milk. For several years Overton Park Zoo have been trying to get a milk sample from a lactating Nile Hippo and during 1959 they were successful.

On February 12, 1959, a female Hippo at Overton Park gave birth to a male baby weighing approximately 65 Ibs. At 10 weeks it was accidentally killed by its mother. When weighed it showed a phenomenal increase of 300 lbs. since birth.

As the female was a heavy milker it was decided to milk her with an ordinary breast pump to prevent her udder from becoming congested.

The Analysis: Fat 3.49%; Protein 5.30%; Lactose 4.32%; Ash 0.80%; Total Solids 11.50%; (Solids not fat (i.e. protein, lactose and ash) come to 8.01 %.)

Fat content lower than that of most cow’s milk, with the exception of that of Holstein. Raymond F. Gray, Overton Park Zoo, Memphis, Tenn., U.S.A. (“Parks & Recreation.” Sept. 1959.)

LIONS BRED AT ARNHEM ZOO, NETHERLANDS

The record for the Zoo is 32 Lion cubs bred during 1937.

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During 1959 22 Lion cubs were born at the Burgers’ Natuur Dierenpark, Arnhem, Netherlands.

USE OF HORMONES AT SOFIA ZOO, BULGARIA

In co-operation with the Bulgarian Academy of Science (Zoological Institute) experiments are being carried out on animals using Testin, Prolan, Testosteron, Yohimbin and Vitamins A, E, B-I.

ANIMAL WELFARE AND ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH

THE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO, U.S.A.

The Biological Research Institute is housed in a two-storey building with well equipped individual laboratories, operating room and offices. Extensive outdoor animal isolation quarters adjoin the building. Members of the Research Council of the Institute meet regularly to discuss special problems involved in research. The Research Council administers the Robert P. Scripps Fellowship which is available to graduate or post-doctoral students for the pursuit of problems in some phase of animal biology at the Biological Research Institute. Research may be in the fields of pathology, bacteriology, parasitology, physiology, comparative anatomy, comparative biochemistry, animal nutrition, veterinary medicine or animal psychology. The stipend is $3,000 for a ten month period and $500 for expenses. Typical problems already investigated include: effects of rapid freezing on the bacterial flora of fish and meat; the digestion of carbohydrates in carnivorous animals; ectoparasites of wild and captive rodents; comparative physiology of seals living in fresh and sea water; nutrition and skin-and-feather-pigmentation of exotic birds, etc.

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