MR. PERKINS AND THE DUKE 253 



qualities would puzzle even Solomon himself had he 

 lived to these our days, only, like the wise man he was, 

 he judiciously expired before Comparative Anatomy 

 was invented, and so escaped the difficulty. I look 

 forward, however, to reach my paradise of Birds once 

 more some time next week and then, for anything I 

 care, the " slimy things " may " crawl upon the slimy 

 sea" just as they did in the presence of the Ancient 

 Mariner, until October next. 



Meantime Ornithology with me has been almost at 

 a standstill ; nothing seems to have occurred worth 

 thinking about, nor have I heard of any shooting to 

 deserve putting on paper. The most sporting character 

 (observe the accent) in the University, namely the 

 tutor of Downing, has nearly sent himself out of this 

 world by trying to extract a thorn from his knee with 

 a knife that he had used a few days before for cutting 

 off a fox's brush, without cleaning the blade. Not 

 only his life but his limb has been saved, but he has 

 lost his liberty, and we the stories that are generally 

 current about his sayings and doings at this time of 

 year. Not many seasons ago the Duke of Cambridge 

 hired the shooting at Six Mile Bottom, which used to 

 be Genl. Hall's, and as there are certain enclaves of 

 Downing property therein, he was advised to continue 

 the General's policy of inviting some representative of 

 that college to shoot. He did so, and this man went. 

 When they stopped for luncheon the bodily wants of 

 H.R.H. were attended to before those of any one else, 

 and this Jack Perkins thought bad manners ; so he 

 exclaimed : " Why, Highness, if you came to shoot 

 with me I should help you first ; and when I come to 

 shoot with you, I think you ought to treat me in the 

 same way." I believe he has not since had the 

 opportunity of being " helped." 



Pardon me all this twaddle, and believe me, 



Yours very truly, 



ALFRED NEWTON. 



