86 
[AMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
The Company insisted upon the landing- 
charge, also the export charges being paid in full, 
although the goods never left the Docks, and no 
services whatever rendered ; this amounted to 
about _£T8 — £9 each department. I gave Lea- 
denhall Street to understand that I considered this 
a barefaced robbery, and hinted I might not use 
that Dock again. 
Up till this moment I have kept my word. 
^18 dock expenses is a very serious item, more 
especially for no services. 
From Africa I am offered Zebras, Roan and 
Sable Antelope, two young Elephants, Chacma 
Baboons, with many Cranes. I learn that the 
travelling dealer, Josephs, visited North America 
sometime back with a very extensive Australian 
collection. 
I have not heard from San Francisco yet 
whether the Showman's transport of Tigers and 
Ourangs reached that city. Still that ambitious 
young man has my best wishes. 
The Batavian collection of Elephants, Tigers, 
Tapirs, Hornbills, are by this time on their way 
to New York. It is a wonderful collection, and 
my best wishes are for its safe arrival at the 
Golden Gate in the Pacific. 
Trade in Great Britain is confined to the pur- 
chase and sale of private collections. These com. 
mand high prices; I refer only to foreign fancy 
birds. 
Pheasants, Peafowl, Swans, Waterfowl in 
general command very low prices. This is ac- 
counted for by food restrictions. There is a boom 
in Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, tame Rats, Mice, Dogs, 
and Cats. 
Rabbit and Guinea Pig breeders are having 
the time of their lives,. A long neglected industry 
has at last come into prominence. After all, the 
people of Great Britain will ha.ve to follow the 
Belgians, Dutch and French, in the breeding of 
the harmless necessary Rabbit for household pur- 
poses. This will ultimately prove to be a won- 
derful business.. It must, however, be conducted 
on Flemish or Belgian lines. These people had 
brought the Ostend Rabbit business to perfection. 
Meanwhile I struggle on. This business and 
Magazine must continue to exist. That both will 
do so I feel sure would be the wish of all my 
readers. Therefore by your subscriptions let me 
know that I have the goodwill of my readers. 
JOHN D. HAMLYN. 
AS OTHERS SEE US. 
Reprinted from the "Daily Mail," 1914, 
BUYING A CROCODILE. 
A Wild Beast Shop in War Time. 
By Harold Ashtox. 
Reading in the daily Press that now is the 
time for cheap* investment in the Wild Beast line, 
I wandered down into Dockland on Saturday 
afternoon and walked into the alluring emporium 
of Mr. John D. Hamlyn, the menagerie specialist. 
Just inside the door a grey parrot drew up the 
blind of his impish eye (parrots, by the way, al- 
ways wink upwards) and said, " Hul-k> ! 
Whatisit?" 
"I beg your pardon," said I. "Is Mr. Ham- 
lyn in?" 
The parrot looked at me sideways, waddled 
to the west end of his cage, and cried in a loud 
voice, "Charley! — Shop!" 
Down came the great man from somewhere 
p above, filling the little stairway with his bulk. 
The sleeves on his huge muscular arms were 
rolled up, his collar was stripped, there was a 
quill pen behind his ear, and there were inkstains 
about him which made it all feel like home at 
once. 
"That's settled it!" he said gloomily. "No 
sooner am I well in my stride in the difficult and 
exciting task of editorship — the cultivation, so to 
speak, of the mammalian muse — than old George 
Bostock rings me up and wants to know what's 
become of those porcupines I posted to him. Of 
course, he didn't know it's publishing day of 
"Hamlyn's Menagerie Magazine," and the leader 
not finished yet. . . . And now it's you ! Still, 
I'm delighted to see you after all these years. 
What can I do for you?" 
"I want a crocodile, please," said I. 
"Nothing doing in ' crocs.,' " replied the 
editor. "Nor alligators — nor anything in the 
scaly reptile pet line. This war's quenched 'em; 
and it would very nearly have quenched me if it 
hadn't been for the consolations of Gilbert. But 
I've got a very tasty line in emus. No Then 
what do you say to a pair of secretary birds- — ■ 
perhaps that's more in your line? Again no? 
Well, come along and have a walk round the 
back-yard and take your choice; everything's dirt 
cheap. And if you don't like it, after a reasonable 
time, you can send it back or exchange it for any 
old thing." 
Finally I chose a swan which seemed rather 
lonely swimming about in the six-foot by six or- 
