14 OTIT OF DOORS. 



as usual on the branches with which the cage is plenti- 

 fully furnished, and gave no signs of life, except occa^ 

 sionally turning one great green-pea of an eye upwards 

 or downwards- as the case might be. The African cobra 

 lay fiat upon the floor of its cage, but on seeing a 

 human face, surmounted by a hat, coming close to the 

 glass, it became rapidly excited, spread its hood, puffed 

 out its body, and raised itself as if threatening an 

 attack. Not wishing to be the cause of a possible in- 

 jury to a valuable reptile by letting it strike its nose 

 against the glass, as it was evidently preparing to do, I 

 passed on to the bull frogs, and so out of the room. 



In the next apartment the creatures were all doing 

 well. A single specimen of the flying fox survives, 

 though the keeper expressed himself as rather anxious 

 concerning its chance of getting through the winter. 

 That singular creature, the gigantic salamander, lay 

 impassive as usual along the bottom of its tank, and 

 though so remarkable an animal, attracts but little 

 notice from visitors. Hundreds pass through the room 

 daily without seeing it at all ; and of those who con- 

 descend to cast a glance at it, the greater number ex- 

 press themselves as sadly disappointed. The general 

 public has heard great tales of salamanders, and 

 through the medium of a weighty culinary instrument 

 bearing the same title has learned to connect the name 

 with fire and glowing metal. Eeading the name of 

 gigantic salamander, they enter the room in a rather 

 nervous and uneasy state of mind, expecting to see 



