NHM: Terracotta Monkey

An NHM detail blip (large): three of the arches in the central hall have monkeys climbing on them! There are 78 monkeys in 9 different poses. The monkey sculptures were designed by Alfred Waterhouse himself: he was the architect behind the main building, and also personally designed many of the decorative features. These monkeys are made from terracotta (like the rest of the internal "stonework"): sculptures were made from Waterhouse's sketches, and the sculptures were used to make moulds for the terracotta. They really are characterful...

I received some news about "my" swan family today from Ann (the local rescuer who's helped many of the local animals that have been injured or entangled): Gentle Cygnet, who had to be taken to The Swan Sanctuary on boxing day, is doing well, but has now been joined by the rest of its family! The two parents and Snatchy Cygnet left Mount Pond on the 6th or 7th January, and I couldn't find them. It turns out that they had originally come from Wimbledon Park, and returned there only to find that another pair of swans had staked a claim on the pond. A fight ensued, and "my" cob swan was driven onto shore overnight where he was bitten on the neck by a fox. The swan sanctuary came and rescued the cob and took the cygnet (which was being chased by the territorial pair); they later took the pen because she no longer had territory, and the rest of her family were at the sanctuary anyway. Apparently they didn't even need to check her ring, because it was obvious that she was the cob's wife when they were reunited.
So, not good news, but hopefully a happy ending: it is great that they're all together again!