HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
47 
in this number we find the October recommenda- 
tions for the rabbit keeper's calendar, such as the 
disposal of superfluous stock in view of the expense 
of upkeep in winter, the selection of inferior pota- 
toes to be U-i\ to the rabbits mixed with bran and 
salt, and the drying and storing - , in covered ves- 
sels plastered down, of any superlluous tubers. 
Tops of carrots and turnips, parsley, etc., are to 
be stored in silos. Rabbits are largely kept in 
France, lor fur as well as for the table, and in the 
advertisement columns we find one lady offering- 
no less than eight breeds — Flemish Giants, Large 
Normandies, Champagne Silvers, Beveren Slues, 
Havana s, Russians, Japanese, Alaskans, and 
Chinchillas. Another advertisement asks lor breed- 
ing stO'ck of several of these, besides Belgian 
Hares and English rabbits. 
Among our English fowls, the Orpington in 
more than one colour seems to be in demand; in 
fact, there is as much in the advertisements about 
the fowls we keep here as about the ordinary 
French breeds, and Indian Runner Ducks figure 
alongside Rouens. Evidently our Allies are quite 
willing lo take. up a good foreign breed when they 
see il, in spite of their well-deserved reputation 
for good fowls of their own. 
In conclusion, I have to record my admira- 
tion lor the pre-eminently practical get-up of this 
little paper; its twelve pages are all practical, and 
one is spared the infliction of illustrations which do 
not illustrate anything practical, and of silly chit- 
chat, features too prominent in some of our own 
birdv literature. 
GENERAL NOTES. 
Bv John D. Hamjcyn*. 
THAT il might interest my readers to know the 
extraordinary conditions under which we have 
lived here in the East End during the last four 
raids. I have taken particular attention of the 
'^un lire over the various animals and birds at 
St. George's Street, East. The Waterfowl, 
Black and White Swans various foreign Geese 
and Ducks lav huddled together as if for mutual 
protection. There is always a period of great 
unrest before the actual raid with these birds. 
The Horse cries aloud, looking above, wonder- 
ing what the row is about. The Baboons, two 
dog-fares in particular, lay Hat under their seat 
and talk continuously. "Goumba,"* the lady 
Chimpanzee, stamps round her den uttering 
loud threats against the disturbers of her peace. 
She always has to be .fondled and talked to 
before regaining her composure and good tem- 
per. "Goumba" is really plaintive during the 
bardment, but bears up well. The larger 
birds, Parrots, Macaws, Cockatoo, all give vent 
to loud cries, the talking Greys uttering at inter- 
vals, "Good God! Good Night! Hullo Bill! 
Bang, Bang!" So far I have not delected one 
single swear word. These I'arrots are keeping 
good. 
My partner and sell nave determined to sec; 
the thing through. We have no idea of leaving 
the neighbourhood. Our neighbours and friends 
may go, but we stay on to the end. Business 
w ill be carried on as usual. 
THAT the Baby Anacondas have dwindled lo 
three. The great difficulty in rearing these in- 
teresting arrivals is want of natural food. 
THAT the poor Concave-casqued Hornbill which 
escaped from the Regents Park Zoological Gar- 
dens met with the fate usually meted out lo any 
strange living specimens that obtain their liber- 
ty. The farm bailiff who shot it should be prose- 
cuted. His excuse that it was a "golden eagle" 
stamps him as an idiot of the highest order. 
THAT Major Cuthbert Christ)', R.A.M.C, gives 
a most interesting account in the "Field," Sep- 
tember 15th, of "The Chimpanzee in the Iluri 
Forest." There is also an excellent photograph 
of a record sized female Chimpanzee shot in the 
forest in 1913. In some other number I shall 
refer again to this letter. 
THAT Mr. W. I'. Pycraft, in "The Illustrated 
London News," October 6th, gives some very 
interesting information of "The War on Big 
Game Animals." 
THAT Dr. Graham Renshaw takes over the 
Editorial Pen of "The Avicultural Magazine" 
from this month. 
THAT the worthy Director of the Copenhagen 
Zoological Gardens w-rites as follows : — 
" We cannot buy any more animals this 
year, not even Monkeys, as we can neither 
procure food for them, nor coke and coals to 
warm up their cages for winter." 
He has my sympathy, but then I know of 
others. 
THAT .Sir Harry H. Johnston, reviewing "West 
African Folk Tales," By W. H. Barker, B.Sc. 
(George G. Harrap and Co., 7/6), gives most 
interesting- information on the "Tiger" of 
Africa. He writes : — 
"This is a collection of 'animal stories,' 
taken down on the Gold Coast, and principal- 
ly connected with the Fahti, Ashanti, and Ga 
peoples. The stories in a general way are 
very similar to those of Sierra Leone, of which 
an excellent and veridique collection was pub- 
lished some years ag'o under the title of 'Cun- 
nie Rabbitt. ' 
" From an ethnological point of view, 
it is almost to be regretted that the Chwi, or 
Ga original, at any rate in two or three cases, 
was not published alongside the translation. 
