THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. 67 
waggons at the head of Rue St. Marcel, full of rusty, dirt- 
begrimed French rifles. I suppose they were what Bazaine’s 
warriors had thrown into the Seille, and had been fished up 
and just come in. é 
8th. A horse came to our depét which had had its mane 
and tail eaten off by another horse during the siege; but 
this does not give an idea of what they were reduced to. 
One of the most shocking sights I ever saw, was one poor 
skeleton brought up into the “ Place” which had been found 
in acellar. It was simply sickening ; but it excited no pity 
in the lookers-on, for what time have men who are engaged 
in butchering one another to think of the sufferings of dumb 
animals? The poor wretch had been shut up many days 
without food and forgotten by its inhuman master. The 
trees inside the fortifications of Metz were in many places 
completely barked by the-famished horses; while outside 
whole groves of them were felled whenever they could inter- 
fere with a cannon’s range. Round the Redte. du Paté 
the desolation was something extraordinary. Fortunately 
the face of the country, far and wide, was wrapped in a 
mantle of snow. This in a great measure concealed what 
had happened, hiding up for the time being the dreary 
spectacle. 
oth. Saw six of the captured mitrailleuses and their 
carriages. The guns are brass, with centrepieces of steel 
pierced for twenty-five bullets. They were not as effective 
as was expected. I believe the principal fault found with 
them was that they drop their shot. . 
Hitherto I have said nothing about ornithology, but I 
had been wishing to see the Metz specimen of the Great 
Auk, and was very glad when I found time to get to the 
Museum. It proved to be not in good condition, and but 
indifferently stuffed, standing on its toes, with loose leg 
wires and long neck (which appeared to have been cut 
open) ; its attenuated frame was suffering much from mould 
