246 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



guinea-pig to a giraffe, and are at all times open to buy or sell 

 anything in the shape of live-stock which conies in their way, 

 are found in most of the large sea-port cities of England, France, 

 Germany, Belgium, and Holland. Zoological gardens are fur- 

 nished partly by these dealers, partly by miscellaneous purchases 

 from private individuals coming home from abroad, and partly 

 by donations of animals from their correspondents and from the 

 collections of other societies of a similar nature. In the markets 

 and about the wharves of those places situated on the coasts of 

 distant lands at which vessels call, a few serpents, as well as 

 other curiosities of the country, are often hawked for sale by 

 vagabond loafers, ever on the alert to make hay of the un- 

 intelligent foreigner ; if one is resident for any time in such a 

 place, or has a friend living there to act as one's agent, these 

 creatures may, of course, be bought at a reasonable price at 

 " off times " when there is no demand ; but since the great dealers 

 have their own experienced collectors in all parts of the world 

 and import animals wholesale, it not unfrequently happens in 

 the case of a common snake, as with that of a parrot or monkey, 

 that the casual visitor finds he has paid three times as much for 

 his purchase abroad as he need have done at home, and has had 

 all the risk, trouble, and expenses of conveyance into the 

 bargain. Sailors often pick up these things very cheaply ; not 

 possessing the means of paying heavy prices for them, and so ob- 

 taining them at their own when the vendor sees there is no chance 

 of making more, for one reason ; and for another, because they 

 " swap " certain articles — such as provisions, knives, and guern- 

 seys — which cost them but little, but which are of high value to 

 the other parties. It must be confessed that the animals they 

 covet are much more likely to take the form of birds, marmosets, 

 raccoons or tiger-cats than serpents ; nevertheless, Jack, with 

 an eye to the main chance, will sometimes invest in such wares, 

 especially if he has learned by experience that they may be 

 disposed of at a good profit when he gets on shore. And I 

 would strongly advise the reader who may live near any depot 

 for mercantile shipping to make friends with some Custom House 

 searcher, or other dock-official whose duty it is to board ships on 

 their arrival, and get him to give a hint to any member of the 

 crew in whose possession he may find a snake — or bird or beast, 

 according to the would-be purchaser's fancy, for the advice 



