308 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



that the bird-stuffer and the collector of specimens cannot do 

 better than make friends with them. 



But beyond all other places, Leadenhall Market is the 

 emporium to which the purchaser of rare birds and animals, 

 living or dead, should betake himself. There is scarcely a 

 quadruped, from a bear to a white mouse, or a bird, from a 

 golden eagle to a long-tailed tomtit, which cannot be found 

 there ; and not a few of the dealers in these articles are 

 themselves curious specimens of the genus homo, accustomed 

 to deal with every description of customer, from the noble- 

 man who wishes to add to his menagrie, or to the feathered 

 tenants of his lake, to the organ boy who wants to purchase 

 a dormouse or monkey. They are as shrewd as Scotchmen, 

 and as keen bargainers as a Yorkshire horse-dealer : but 

 although somewhat over-suspicious in making their purchases, 

 and sadly deficient in elegance of manner and language, they 

 are on the whole by no means bad fellows to deal with, if 

 care be taken not to " rub them against the grain." Singing- 

 birds, hawks, cats with brass collars arid chains, ready got up 

 for tabby-loving spinsters, Blenheim spaniels, and wicked- 

 looking bull-dogs, pigeons, bantams, gold fish, in short every 

 kind of bird or beast that was ever yet made a pet of is here 

 to be bought, sold, and exchanged, and frequently the 

 collector may obtain very rare and valuable specimens. 

 Holland and Belgium supply great quantities of wild-fowl, 

 canaries, carrier pigeons, &c. ; and on a busy day the traffic 

 in this division of Leadenhall Market is a most amusing sight. 



One thing which especially surprises the visitor to this 

 market is the total defiance of the game laws which all the 

 dealers indulge in. There is scarcely a description of game 

 which cannot be bought here at any season, legal or illegal ; 

 and it is difficult to understand how game laws and their 

 penalties can be so openly and systematically infringed. 

 Pheasants and pheasants' eggs, grouse and grouse eggs, &c., 

 &c., are undisguisedly and unblushing sold at all seasons, in 

 defiance of informers arid magistrates. On asking how it 

 happens that the dealers can supply game of all sorts at all 

 seasons, you are gravely told " that it is all foreign game." 

 Scotch grouse are called Norwegian grouse, and good English 

 partridges and other game are libelled by being called Dutch- 

 men or Frenchmen. It is certainly true that vast numbers of 

 white grouse come from Norway. These birds as well as the 

 capercailzie, are caught or shot as opportunity offers during 



