214 NATURAL HISTORY ESSAYS 



menagerie proprietor. 1 Similarly, the Leyden 

 Museum contains an example formerly in the 

 menagerie of Van Aken, in his day a famous 

 showman. 



An amusing story is related of some specimens 

 received at the Dublin Zoological Gardens. The 

 animals being expected to arrive at Southampton, 

 a gentleman interested in them a certain arch- 

 bishop by the way wired from Dublin " Meet 

 the devils for me." His message aroused the 

 curiosity of the telegraph operator ; and having 

 been assured by the waggish archbishop that it was 

 a Fenian move, she afterwards went to "lay 

 information " at the Castle. The box containing 

 these obscure marsupials was met on landing by a 

 detachment of police a suitable reception truly, even 

 considering the actual nature of the passengers 

 though perhaps the archbishop, armed with candle, 

 bell, and book, would have received them even more 

 appropriately ! 



Many, years ago, the late Mr. Krefft, of the 

 Australian Museum at Sydney, kept a Tasmanian 

 devil ; which, having escaped, in two nights killed 

 fifty -four fowls, besides six geese and an albatross. 

 To ensnare so greedy an animal was probably 

 only a matter of time ; anyway, he was finally 

 retaken in a strong trap. Retaken, but by no 



1. Probably one of these specimens was the animal brought over by 

 Capt. Riddell. 



