306 HOMEWARD BOUND. 



work, and not likely to be hampered by scruples as to the 

 manner of doinj^^ it. If he is, as I take for granted, busy 

 in France just now, he will leave his mark behind. 



Tlie voyage, however, seemed likely to be a dull one ; and 

 to relieve the monotony, a wild-beast show was determined 

 on, ere the weather grew too cold. So one day all the new 

 curiosities were brought on deck at noon ; and if some great 

 zoologist had been on board, he would have found materials 

 in our show for more than one interesting lecture. The 

 doctor contributed an Alligator, some 2ft. Gin. long ; another 

 officer, a curiously-marked Ant-eater of a species unknown 

 to me. It was common, he said, in the Isthmus of Panama ; 

 and seemed the most foolish and helpless of beasts. As no 

 ants were procurable, it was fed on raw yolk of egg, which 

 it contrived to suck in with its long tongue not enough, 

 however, to keep it alive during the voyage. 



The chief engineer exhibited a live *' Tarantula," or bird- 

 catching spider, who was very safely barred into its box 

 with strips of iron, as a bite from it is rather worse than that 

 of an English adder. 



We showed a Vulturine Parrot and a Kinkajou. The 

 Kinkajou, by the bye, got loose one night, and displayed his 

 natural inclination, by instantly catching a rat, and dancing 

 between decks with it in his mouth : but was so tame withal, 

 that he let the stewardess stroke him in passing. The good 



