412 LEAVES FROM THE 



with a sort of minuet step. This lag had, no doubt, his 

 reasons for remaining in the back-ground, for I observed 

 that when the spectators threw food to the party, it 

 frequently passed over the two foremost, and was quietly 

 appropriated by the retiring character. The attitude of 

 the orator was a study for St. Stephen's. They are 

 evidently favourites, and all three came in for their share ; 

 but the Cleon of the party secured the greatest portion of 

 the eleemosynary biscuit. 



6th April, 1851. — New lion arrived from South Africa, 

 and good friends with Cocksedge already. The Sumatran 

 tapir looked in good health. The carunculated crane 

 and lovely mandarin ducks in high feather. Works 

 everywhere in progress to add to attraction in this annus 

 niirahilis. Hippo was having a game of romps with a 

 young Egyptian gentleman lately come over, but kept in 

 the water, and now and then made a very queer face at 

 his playmate. The tank in the open air near the giraffe- 

 house is finished, and seats are preparing for the spec- 

 tators, so that a multitude of all nations may, during this 

 exhibiting summer, see Hippo in his bath at their ease. 

 A building is rising for Mr. Gould's magnificent collection 

 of humming-birds, the finest and most numerous ever 

 brought together. Though the true Egyptian crocodile 

 flied on the voyage, there is no reason to doubt that 

 another may be soon forthcoming. Poor Mr. Duncan had 

 done his best to interest the King of Dahomey to obtain a 

 live African elephant, as our readers may remember, but 

 Captain Forbes, who seems actuated by the same kindly 

 feelings towards the Society, found that the king classed 

 this attempt among the impossibilities. His Majesty 

 could understand how a wild elephant might be en- 

 trapped into a pitfall, — but to get him out and lead him 

 away — no — he could not or would not believe in the 

 possibility of that. But if there is a failure in the south, 

 the Viceroy of Egypt rules in the north ; and there are 

 safe grounds for hoping, that through His Highnesses 



