architecture, to the great number of plants growing in it and also to the variety of beauti- ful wall-paintings, the work of the Berlin artist, Schultze-Seehof. A mosaic of parrots and toucans on one of the entrance walls, a flight of avocets in the northern wing, a plaster group of migrating storks, many of the sign-boards and, last and not least, the foun- tain in the inside yard, are all his work.

North of the bird house is the pheasantry, also newly-built, and covering an area of 1,800 square metres with a capacity of 5,100 cubic metres. It is the fourth pheasantry to be built in the history of the Berlin Zoo. It is 160 m. long and has sixty-four indoor and outdoor cages. It consists of two parts: a heated section and an unheated section. The heated part, with its spacious indoor and outdoor aviaries,has an inside room for visitors. Here all the pheasants which are sensitive to the cold, the Congo pea- cock (Afrpauo congensis) and the shoe-bills (Balaeniceps rex) are housed. In the unheated section, visitors do not have access to the in- door rooms because the hardy birds can be seen in the planted cages in any weather.

Before it was destroyed, the Berlin Zoo had high reputation for bird-keeping. We hope that this tradition will be continued with our new buildmgs.

REPTILE A N D BIRD HOUSE AT BIRMINGHAM ZOO

by F. Bob Truett Director, Jimmy Morgan Zoo, Birmingham, Ah., USA

THE new Reptile and Bird House at Jimmy Morgan Zoo is a one-floor budding measuring 80 fi. x 80 ft. It consists oftwo wings separated by a large indoor ‘Rain Forest’. There are separate entrances to each wing and the Rain Forest can be entered from either of them. The wings are constructed identically but one houses birds while the other contains reptiles. For each of these animal groups we have five large permanent cages (6 ft. x 10 ft.) and seven medium-sized permanent cages (4 ft. x 4 ft.). All of the permanent cages are serviced from the rear, are tall enough to stand up in, are heated with warm water circulating through the floor and have irregular floors

made from coloured concrete and natural stone arranged to resemble the animals’ natural habitats. They are all supplied with running water, both cold and heated (80’~) and they have pools that are connected up with the sanitary sewer. They are separated from the public by plate glass which has been placed at an angle so as to reduce glare and reflections; it also helps prevent injuries to birds whch might fly into it. Each wing has two display panels to accommodate varying numbers of small portable cages and each wing has a bulletin board.

The Rain Forest has a large pool with water being circulated over a small waterfall. Most of the Rain Forest has an earth floor which is planted with palm trees, rubber trees, vines, bamboos and other tropical plants. The rear wall is painted with a jungle scene with which the vegetation in the foreground blends nicely. Dead trees and rotten logs are scattered among the live plants for added authenticity. The roofofthe e h b i t is made oftranslucent fibre- glass and a sprinkler system which produces a misty rain is hidden behmd the beams sup- porting the roof.

About fifteen species of birds, ranging in size from flamingoes to tanagers, fly about the Rain Forest freely. Iguanas, marine toads, water snakes, bull-frogs and other cold- blooded creatures are also free in this area and can be seen by careful observers. The public is only separated from the Rain Forest by a low guard rail. Plenty of benches are provided for the visitors in front of the Rain Forest. The entire building is heated by warm water cir- culated through the floors. The Rain Forest has an additional gas heater placed out of sight. A very humid temperature of ~ O O F is maintained in order to simulate the tropical climate for the animals and the visitors.

DUDLEY ZOO APE HOUSE by G. C. Roots

Curator, Dudley Zoological Society Ltd, Great Britain

OPENED officially in May 1962, the new Ape House at Dudley Zoo is a completely barless buildmg housing a representative collection of great apes: two Lowland gorillas (Gorilla