LETTER FROM GODFREY WEBB 49 



ditions of men. Farmers, whose land he used 

 to frequent for snipe-shooting or when he was 

 looking out for some particular bird, naturalists, 

 bird-stuffers, rat-catchers, gamekeepers and 

 strange doggy men, possessors of a young otter 

 or a badger, all had a word or touch of the hat 

 for Mr. Powys of Christ Church. Even at this 

 time his knowledge of the habits of birds and 

 animals was remarkable, and enabled him to 

 subdue the wildness and overcome the timidity 

 of many a strange pet ; he had badgers in his 

 rooms, which occasioned some passing difficulties 

 with the College authorities ; tame snakes were 

 not infrequently seen by visitors, when nerves 

 were proof against the repulsion which most of 

 us felt for the serpent tribe. He never realised 

 how strange his predilection for curious animals 

 appeared to ordinary mortals, and his kindness 

 of heart, and love of " all things both great and 

 small," made him fancy that other people felt 

 as he did. 



' I remember a drive with him in a hansom 

 from Leadenhall Market to Down Street, 

 Piccadilly (where I had lodgings at the time), 

 with an eagle-owl in a large cage on the 



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