THE NILGAI ANTELOPE 123 



proprietor afterwards removed to Charing Cross 

 Mews, and later to Walworth, where he set up the 

 Surrey Zoological Gardens. This latter collection 

 was sold by auction by Mr. Stevens in November, 

 1856; Frank Buckland attended the sale, and 

 records that the boa constrictor was sold for five 

 guineas, and a nilgai for ^9. A spiteful zebra 

 hybrid (zebra x wild ass) fetched ^"8 ; it had 

 formerly belonged to Edward Stanley, i3th Earl of 

 Derby, in his day a famous naturalist. 



Lord Derby's splendid collection at Knowsley 

 Hall covered more ground than even the Zoological 

 Gardens at that time ; and though the buildings 

 were plain even to unsightliness, there could be no 

 question of the value of the animals which they 

 housed. Quaggas (now extinct), zebras, springbok 

 and other antelopes, American bison, llamas, alpacas, 

 and various species of deer and kangaroos were 

 amongst the treasures at Knowsley. In a special 

 paddock was kept the famous herd of eland antelope 

 (till then unknown alive in England), and with 

 them a troop of nilgai one bull and four cows. 

 Appropriately enough were these two species placed 

 together, though, doubtless, the good Earl little 

 guessed how appropriately for on the plains of 

 India the nilgai represents the tragelaphine antelopes 

 eland, bushbuck, and kudu of the African jungles. 1 



1. A yearling nilgai from the Knowsley menagerie is now in the 

 Leyden Museum. Six others were also bred by Lord Derby. 



