T6 
HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
I have seen them fed, and all seem to have a 
fair share, although I hear they went very hungry 
many times during the past four years. 
I trust this description will be of interest to' 
your numerous readers. 
LIST OF LIVE STOCK 
taken on the 22nd February, 1919. 
4 Kangaroos. 
15 Deer (various). 
30 Flamingoes. 
7 
Bears (various). 
3 
Wolves. 
1 
Hyaena. 
1 
Wildcat. 
3 
Crocodiles (small). 
2 
Pythons. 
40 
Parrots (fine specimens). 
1 
Hornbill. 
4 
Wild Swines. 
4 
Llamas. 
1 
Camel. 
15 
Storks. 
4 
Owls. 
30 
Eagles and Condors. 
6 
Polar Bears (on Mappin Terrace). 
3 
Yaks, 
1 
Secretary Bird. 
2 
Bison. 
2 
Chapman's Zebras. 
1 
Berg Zebra. 
1 Gnu. 
1 
Tapir. 
1 
Rhinoceros. 
2 
Hippos. 
1 
Elephant. 
1 
Kapybara. 
2 
Emus. 
2 
Cassowaries. 
2 
Lions. 
2 
Lionesses. 
2 
Leopards. 
1 
Panther. 
1 
Puma Lion. 
1 
Jaguar. 
3 
Tigers. 
3 
Monkevs. 
1 
Thar. 
Many 
small birds, Budgerigars, Love Birds 
Rosellas, etc., etc. 
Zoological Gardens, 
Cologne (Germany). 
22 
/2/19. 
A MAGISTRATE and the BIRD LAW. 
At Old Street Police Court on Tuesday, 
before Mr. W. Clarke Hall, Messrs. De Von and 
Co., Bethnal Green Road, were summoned at the 
instance of the R. S.P.C.A. for being on January 
15th in the possession of 21 " freshly -caught" 
Goldfinches. Mr. Polhill represented the Society, 
and Messrs. De Von and Co. were defended by 
Mr. G.R. Blanco White, instructed by Mr., H. F. 
Stout. The defendants produced evidence, in the 
person of Patrick Madden, of Tipperary, to prove 
that the birds had been sent from Ireland on. 
January 14th, after having been in the possession 
of the Irish dealer since December 3rd last. 
Counsel cited cases where the justices had 
held that the onus of proof that the birds were 
recently taken lay upon the prosecution, whereas 
in this case all that the prosecution depended upon 
was the opinion of an inspector who, according 
to the defendants, did not even know that the 
birds were Goldfinches until he had asked what 
they were. 
The birds in the present case were in show 
condition and some of the consignment had been 
sold to the Army and Navy Stores for show in 
their live stock department. 
After referring to the official reports of past 
cases, the magistrate said that as far as he could 
gather there had been no legal decision as to 
what was a freshly-caught bird within the mean- 
ing of the Act, and that magistrates were free 
to put their own interpretation on the phrase. In . 
this case'he thought that the birds had been kept 
for a time in the hands of the Irish dealer simply 
to enable them to get over their first shock of 
being taken from the fields and to endure the 
long passage from Tipperary to London with 
more impunity than if they had been stnt directly 
after capture. He should rule, therefore, that 
they were to all intents and purposes freshly- 
caught birds, but he should not inflict any fine. 
The summons would be dismissed upon the pay- 
ment of five guineas costs. 
The effect of the decision is of course that 
in the district within the jurisdiction of Mr. W. 
Clarke Hall no one may have in his possession 
any Goldfinch, for Goldfinches are protected 
throughout the year in the County of London, and 
in Mr. W. Clarke Hall's view length of posses 
sion does not count. It is a matter which affects 
tvery keeper of British birds, for if one magis 
trate can construe the law in this fashion, of 
course any other may do the same, or worse. In 
especial it affects the traders, for if no one may 
keep a Goldfinch there will be no buyers, and if 
the trade do not take steps to have this ridiculous 
decision upset upon appeal they will have them, 
selves only to blame. Fourteen days are allowed 
forfor an appeal to be lodged, and Messrs. Trower 
(Caledonian Road), Howard and Son (Sclater 
Street), and Isaacs (St. Martin's Lane), have each 
agreed to be responsible for £5 towards the cost. 
