THE HAWKS AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."
read with great pleasure the kindly and sympathetic article in the Spectator of October 26th, entitled "Bird-Life in Art," in which your critic felt justified in writing such complimentary phrases about my work in Bond Street.
But what pleased me more was that he drew attention to,. and raised his protest against, the way in which the hawks and falcons are housed at the Zoological Gardens. I have no wish to make remarks that would be disagreeable to the authorities of " the Zoo," from whom I have invariably received the greatest courtesy and attention ; but it cannot be denied that the rages in the Northern Aviary are far more suited for some of the rodent mammals than they are for those extremely beautiful creatures, the birds of air and light, that now occupy them. These graceful birds, so strong of wing, are " cribbed, cabined, and confined " in brick boxes, in which they have barely room enough to expand their wings,. as they sit-perched in semi-gloom. There is no real light and shade on them, but only " half-tone," as painters call it, which must be as disagreeable to the falcons themselves as it is annoying to the artist who endeavours to draw them. Your critic's suggestion that the hawks should be kept on perches (like the macaws) seems admirable to me, and could surely be carried out without great expense or difficulty.
With the remarks on the bird-drawing of the Japanese and of Mr. Wolf, I most cordially concur. I have learned many a lesson from the former, and I regard Joseph Wolf, so far as my =knowledge goes, as the greatest bird-draughtsman the world has yet seen.—I am, Sir, &c.,
17 Hamilton Terrace, N.W. H. STAGY MARKS.
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