32 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
The effect was pleasing, but rather too striking 
for every day wear, so on our return to' civilisation 
we endeavoured to extract the quills, and restore 
to our headgear its normal aspect of sobriety. A 
more difficult task we have rarely undertaken. 
Use what care we would, the ultra-needle-like 
points seemed to slip of their own accord into 
the skin, making no appreciable wound, but cling- 
ing like grim death, when we endeavoured to draw 
them out. We can readily understand that few 
animals care to meddle with the "spiny pig," 
armed with long needles that appear to have the 
uncanny quality of abandoning their owner, and 
affixing themselves to any alien flesh on the light- 
est contact. This characteristic, no doubt, has 
given rise to the myth that the porcupine "shot 
its shining quills like arrows," at its foes, a fal- 
lacy, by-the-way, as Mr. Macnamara points out, 
perpetuated by Longfellow, in "Hiawatha." 
Many other interesting particulars of the 
home-life of the porcupine are given by the writer. 
Space permits us to quote one only : — 
" One night a friend was awakened by a 
deep reverberating noise repeated again and 
ag-ain, coming from some little distance down 
stream. He said it sounded like a horse gal- 
loping over a wooden bridge, but there was 
no road within many miles, and there was no 
bridge. At last he got up to investigate, and 
discovered that the disturbance was caused 
by a porcupine gnawing the inside of an emp- 
ty bacon case left on the shore by a drive 
gang. Under the vigorous rasping of the 
porcupine's powerful teeth, the boards thun- 
dered like a bass drum." 
GENERAL NOTES. 
By John D. Hamlyn. 
It may be interesting to know : — 
THAT Mr. E. H. Bostock has sold his Hippo- 
potamus, which has toured the country for many 
seasons, to Messrs. Jennison and Co., Belle 
Vue, Manchester. The reason for selling was 
that the animal had outgrown its travelling- 
wagon, which speaks well for the great care 
taken of this wonderful specimen by Messrs. 
Bostock and Wombwell. 
THAT I sympathise with Mr. D. Seth Smith 
over the theft of the rare Sunbird some two 
weeks ago from the Zoological Gardens. Should 
any of my readers hear of a Sunbird, will they 
kindly communicate with Mr. Seth Smith? 
THAT the Zoo has lost two valuable animals in 
the Wild Horse and the Takin. 
THAT the Russian invasion of East Prussia 
caused great damage to animal life. In the 
forest of Bielovege, in Lithuania, the famous 
herd of Bison has been reduced to 200 animals. 
The great pheasant preserves and deer parks 
in Galicia and Poland were laid waste. Several 
thousand horses perished in Galicia. 
THAT the "East London Observer," 9th August, 
states : — 
"Councillor J. D. Hamlyn celebrated his 
60th birthday on Monday, and says he hopes 
to live another 42 years in order to reach his 
father's age. He had a "birthday tea" at the 
Stepney Board of Guardians on Thursday. 
We are glad to know Mrs. Hamlyn is mak- 
ing a rapid recovery. 
THAT the superintendent of the Clifton Zoolo- 
gical Gardens secured temporary exemption at 
the Bristol Tribunal, it being submitted that 
he was the only man left who knew the animals, 
especially the lions and tigers, whose toenails 
had been cut by him. 
THAT the following" Natural History Queries ap- 
peared in the "Scotsman" lately: — 
Craigellachie, 
August 8, 1918. 
Sir, — As you have a natural history col- 
umn, I should like to get light upon a striking 
incident we noted in the woods of Arndilly 
here. Passing a tree, we noticed what seemed 
a crab-like creature moving about the base. 
To our surprise it turned out a fine beetle-like 
creature like a good-sized bumble bee, with 
beautiful gold bands across its wings. But 
it was, till we laboriously and carefully freed 
it, covered by a mass of tiny terra-cotta col- 
oured pin-head-like creatures that seemed de- 
termined to make it their prey. There must 
have been hundreds massed all round its body. 
We noted many others careering about near. 
Has this been noted before? I am not 
much of a naturalist, . except that I know 
enough to know my ignorance. Hence my 
appeal to your expert. — I am, etc.. 
Bon-Accord. 
Cupar-Fife, 
August 11, 1918. 
Sir, — I wonder if any of your numerous 
readers can tell me the name of some birds 
seen here for the last few weeks. They are 
evidently of the hawk tribe, of a rich brown 
in colour, with lighter under parts, and the 
one darker than the other. We think they 
have nested here on a high branch of an old 
fir, and, if so, the nest is beautifully lined with 
wool. They have a very silent flight, but the 
whole time keep up a continuous cry, some- 
thing between a squeak and a shriek. Could 
thev be kites? — I am, etc. Fife. 
Printed by W. J. Hasted & Son (T.U.), 306, Mile End Road, E. 1., and Published by J. D. Hamlyn, 221, St. George' 
Street, London Docks, E. 1. 
