HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
61 
The care of such a varied assortment of 
animal types as these would be a real education 
in practical zoology, and as such more worthy to 
be taken up by public bodies than collections of 
British wild life; I mention this, because I fancy 
there is a tendency to concentrate too much on 
all-British collections, which involves the neglect 
of many charming, useful, and instructive ani- 
mals, while a wild creature is not necessarily 
easier to keep because it is a native; indeed, ours 
are often very difficult subjects. 
Besides, our British fauna is not at all dis- 
tinctive, nearly all our species being continental 
as well. In birds, for instance, the common red 
grouse is our only peculiar species, and this is 
one which is hardly ever to be seen in captivity 
at all, though hand-reared grouse make charming 
pets. A selection of species to illustrate the ani- 
mals of our great Empire would, I venture to 
think, be a better idea. 
In case, however, an all-British policy in the 
menagerie is decided upon, I should strongly ad- 
vise my readers not to' attempt too much, but to 
concentrate at first on subjects known to be easy 
and inoffensive. Thus, among mammals, the 
squirrel, rabbit, and the various mice and rats; 
among birds, the finches, thrushes and pigeons, 
should receive attention. Among the woodpeck- 
ers, the greater spotted is the easiest subject; 
among the waders, the ruff and the moorhen, 
though the latter is rather spiteful; while the best 
duck is the tufted species, which contrasts well 
with the common wild duck, as so often seen in 
our parks. 
Unless a large pool is available, however, 
these ducks are rather out of place, while birds 
of prey of course cause much more trouble as to 
food; the kestrel and little owl will be found easy 
and interesting, however. The other owls are 
not very lively subjects; but the barn-owls, if 
reared from the nest, can be established at liberty 
and left to provide for itself . 
ELEPHANTS IN ADDO BUSH. 
CAPE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL TAKES 
ACTION. 
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE NUISANCE. 
In the Provincial Council, a few days ago, 
Mr. Langenhoven (M.E.C., Oudtshoorn), as 
chairman, moved that the report of the Select 
Committee on Elephants in Addo Bush be con- 
sidered. The report contains the following : For 
a concise and clear statement of the history and 
development that have led up to the present posi- 
tion, the committee has pleasure in especially re- 
ferring to the evidence given before it by the Pro- 
vincial Secretary, for whose assistance in this en- 
quiry your committee is greatly indebted. The 
committee is of opinion that the herd of elephants 
in the Addo Bush reserve has become such a source 
of danger and damage to the surrounding farms 
that their continuance under present conditions 
has become intolerable. By breaking down fences 
and destroying waterworks, and generally bring- 
ing about a state of terror and insecurity they are 
the cause of actual damage to a serious extent, 
both immediately and in its consequences upon 
the breeding of cattle; they hamper farming opera- 
tions and so put a restraint upon further agricul- 
tural development. In this connection the com. 
mittee would direct especial attention to the de- 
velopment now in course of undertaking by the 
Sundays River irrigation scheme. This scheme 
involves a main canal from the Sundays River of 
some 36 miles in length, besides a network of sub- 
sidiary canals, and the irrigation of an area of 
some 10,000 morgen in extent. The mere pres- 
ence of the elephants in the vicinity of the canal, 
or their lying down in it according to their natural 
habit, would constitute a degree of danger and 
damage which it is impossible to over-estimate. 
The scheme involves a cost of at least half a mil- 
lion pounds, and the projected settlement is in- 
tended to bring - hundreds of new settlers upon the 
land. When the scheme is completed and the 
subsequent new agricultural development under- 
taken, the presence of the water and the crops 
will constitute an additional attraction to the ele- 
phants if then still left to roam at will. Their sud- 
den appearance in unexpected places is a menace 
to peaceful traffic upon the highways, and to the 
movement of farm-hands. By rendering the 
patrolling of the bush impossible they serve as a 
cloak for poachers, so that the bushbuck has dis- 
appeared, or nearly so, and the buffalo, which 
used to be found there in large numbers is in dan- 
ger of extermination. A peculiar hardship is that 
the adjoining farmers have no means of self- 
defence whatever against these depredations. The 
law allows them to destroy elephants in flagranti 
delicto (which itself is no simple task except to 
a professional hunter of big game), but does not 
permit them to destroy the elephants when tres- 
passing, or when on their way to commit damage. 
The amount of damage specifically testified to 
before us is necessarily only a small proportion 
of the total committed, but even that fraction 
must run into thousands of pounds, and no com- 
pensation has yet been obtained. 
Assuming that it is imperative that means 
shall be adopted for the future security and pro- 
tection of the inhabitants, their farms, their cattle 
and their industry, the possible steps which can 
