LIONS AND TIGERS. 



A CHANGE OF RESIDENCE 



Upon the completion of the building of the present 

 Lion-house I was tormented by applications made to me 

 by friends and Fellows of the Society wishing to be 

 informed when the lions and tigers were to be removed 

 to the new house. Numerous suggestions and ridiculous 

 propositions for carrying out this interesting and danger- 

 ous performance were put forward. Some people advised 

 that the animals should be chloroformed, others that 

 .chains and spring collars should be used, which, with a 

 sufficient number of men on either side, would be the 

 most simple and easy mode of transport, while one other 

 suggestion was that an iron tunnel should be erected for 

 them to run through. 



In order to put a stop to this annoyance I had to assure 

 my numerous correspondents that nothing would be seen 

 by outsiders of the removal of the animals, as it was quite 

 uncertain at what hour they could be shifted and it was 

 quite impossible to say when they would be. The mode 

 of proceeding was, however, extremely simple. There was 

 placed in front of the door of the cage of the lion or tiger 

 that was about to be removed a narrow shifting or 

 travelling den ; no attempt was made to force or drive 

 the animal into this den, the door of which was open 

 facing the open door of the old cage. The animal was 



2G 



