68 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
and high professional ability in the Society's 
interests. His advice as to the maintenance of 
health and the cure of sickness among- the ani- 
mals was always at the Council's disposal, and 
his reports, given as the result of skilled and 
careful post mortem examination, have been 
of very great service to those responsible for 
the management of the Gardens. The Council 
desire to express their sincere sympathy with 
Mrs. Mettam and her family in the irreparable 
loss which they have sustained." 
THAT one of my most treasured postcards is one 
received from a well-known Menagerie and 
Amusement Proprietor : — 
" Have vou ever consulted a doctor about 
your trouble?" 
I have much pleasure in saying I have done 
so. 
THAT Mr. Rossi has my sympathy over the loss 
of his smallest elephant. It appears that the 
elephant was taken ill with pneumonia and died. 
It had every attention, and for having carried 
out every possible endeavour to save the ani- 
mal's life, Mr. Rossi was fined five pounds and 
costs. It is high time a determined stand was 
made against the harmless cranks who engineer 
these prosecutions. If they understood ele- 
phants well and good, but when they object to 
the ordinary elephant's hook or goad, one can 
only smile at their simplicity. No elephant 
could ever be kept in captivity without one. 
Ask the Indian Government officials. 
THAT the Seventh Annual Financial Seport of 
the Washington Park Zoological Society, Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, is just to hand. 
Available funis are some 2,085 dollars. 
Membership shews a record of 380. 
New Animal House is now nearing com- 
pletion and when so will be quite an acquisition 
to the Zoo and a credit to the City. 
The Purchases and Donations were one man- 
drill monkey, two drills, one black bear, one 
tapir, 24 macaque monkeys, two Reeves.' phea- 
sants, two timber wolves, seven other phea- 
sants. 
Amongst the list of stock are 4 Siberian 
Tigers, 1 Lion, 1 Leopard, 2 Tasmanian Devils, 
1 Tapir, 1 Sea Lion. 
The Deaths have been about the average. 
The Report does great credit to the man- 
agement of the Park and also to the Director, 
Mr. E. H. Bean. 
THAT I thank "The World's Fair" for placing 
me "In the Barber's Chair." The conversation 
was most interesting. 
THAT "The Field," November 24th, gives a 
most interesting account of The Fishing Cat. 
I trust to receive one shortlv. 
THAT "The Spectator," November 17th, has an 
account of a tame rook. The writer states : — 
" Sir, — Having kept a tame rook, I have 
been interested in the letters which have ap- 
peared in the "Spectator," and am curious 
to know whether your correspondents noticed 
in their birds one very remarkable peculiarity 
which my rook, and also one belonging to a 
erlaltion, had. Both these birds would play 
with fire. Nothing- pleased my rook more 
than a lighted cigarette-end or match. He 
would first dance round it, then pounce on it, 
ad, spreading his wings, would hold the cig- 
arette or match under them, is if fumigating 
himself. The other rook I mention would 
strike matches by nipping the heads off with 
his bill. Both birds behaved in other respets 
very much as your correspondents describe. 
I am, Sir, etc., W.B.R. 
THAT most interesting articles on Natural His- 
torv can alwavs be found in "The Yorkshire 
Weekly Post." 
THAT the arrivals in London have been some 
Budgerigars, and in Liverpool only a few mon- 
keys and parrots. 
THAT the exportation of Canaries and Water- 
fowl still continues. The Trade owes a deep 
debt of gratitude to our American cousins for 
their purchases during the last few years. 
THAT the demand for monkeys, cavies, mice, rab- 
bits, etc., still continues. This has also proved 
a blessing to many. 
THAT the following notices are posted at some 
of the Tube stations : — 
"No Parrots or Live Stock of any des- 
cription, also Perambulators, allowed inside 
during Air Raids." 
Why Live Stock is associated with Prams I 
cannot uderstand. 
THAT the Jardin d'Acclimatation of Paris has 
just had a litter of Lions born there. It is 
the second litter during 1917. 
THAT Mr. E. J. Brook, of Ecclefechan, N.B., 
writes under date December 10th : — 
"I enclose you my subscription for the 
present volume of your Magazine, and also 
for the previous one. 
"What a pity some of the famous 600 
Rhesus monkeys cannot really take the place 
of two or three hundred Members of the 
House of Commons. Could the substitution 
not be carried out under the Defence of the 
Realm Act?" 
For which letter I greatly thank him. 
JOHN D. HAMLYN. 
Christmas, 1917. 
Printed by W. J. Hasted & Son (T.U.), 30G, Mile End Road, E. ]., and Published by J. O. Marilyn, 
Street, London Decks, E. 1. 
21, St. George's 
