6 WILD ANIMALS. 



provide for tte animals and their keepers. In 1252 the London 

 sheriffs were ordered to pay fourpence a day for the maintenance 

 of a white bear, and to provide a muzzle and chain to hold him 

 while fishing or washing himself in the river Thames. In 1255 

 (same reign) they were directed to build a house in the Tower for 

 an elephant which had been presented to the king by Louis of 

 France, and in a second writ they were ordered to provide 

 necessaries for him and his keepers. This was the first elephant 

 ever seen in England since tbe Roman period. "We learn from 

 other orders that in the reigns of Edward I., II., and III., that 

 lions and leopards were allowed for at the rate of sixpence a day, 

 and their keepers' wages was three halfpence. During later reigns 

 the keeper of the Tower Hons was an important position held 

 by a person of quality about the king, and he received the sum 

 of sixpence a day, and the same amount for every animal under 

 his charge. 



The post was at other times held by the Lieutenant or Constable 

 of the Tower, with the stipulation that he provided a sufficient 

 deputy ; for the office in the royal household of our ancient kings, 

 called " The Master of the King's Bears and Apes," had been 

 abolished at a much earlier date. 



The menagerie in the Tower at no time contained many 

 varieties ; at one period it Only had six lions and no other 

 animals. In 1708 Strype enumerates eleven lions, two leopards 

 or tigers (it seems, the worthy historian did not know the 

 difference), three eagles, two owls, two cats of the mountain, and 

 one jackal. In 1754 the number had increased, but in 1822, when 

 Mr. Cops became keeper, it had dwindled down to a grizzly bear, 

 an elephant, and a few birds. Under his skilful management 

 the collection assumed much larger dimensions, and became a 

 really interesting and attractive spectacle, often alluded to in the 

 writings of the period. The sanitary conditions of the place were 

 improved, greater care was paid to cleanliness, and, as a con- 

 sequence, the mortality of the animals was very slight during his 

 rule. One death, however, is recorded, that of the secretary bird, 

 which was beheaded in the Tower, thus suffering the fate allotted 

 to traitors. While prying about, he incautiously introduced his neck 



