HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
Some twenty years ago I was approached by 
a very well-known London Contractor as to the 
suitability of elephants for London street haulage. 
I pointed out to this gentleman that it was 
not a matter of only buying the elephant, bit its 
keeper and attendant was a very serious considera- 
tion. Suitable attendants for large elephants are 
very hard to find. Elephants have their likes and 
dislikes. I asked the Contractor what he would 
do in the event of the keeper not turning up one 
morning. "Well," he replied, "I should certainly 
send round for you !" The project fell through. I 
could not guarantee an elephant keeper at a 
moment's notice. 
JOHN D. HAMLYN, 
HISTORY OF THE GOULDIAN FINCH. 
FROM 1885 TO 1916. 
Poephila mirabilis (Redheads). 
Poepnila gouldia? (Blackheads). 
The first arrivals of the Gouldian Grass Finch 
in Europe consisted of five specimens' — three Red- 
heads and two Blackheads — in April, 1885, three 
of which were presented to the Zoological Society, 
Regents Park, by a Mr. C. X. Rosenfeld, and two 
being sold in Paris to a well-known amateur at 
twenty-five pounds each. 
These were from the Charters Towers dis- 
trict, Northern Queensland. 
I might say in passing that it is only within 
the last fifteen years, or thereabouts, that they 
ho e arrived from the Port Darwin district, North- 
ern Territory. 
Some thirty years ago the Quec nsland Coast 
was opened up by the British Indian Steamship 
Co., their steamers sailing monthly from the 
Royal Albert Dorks, calling at Thursday Island, 
Rockhampton, right up to Brisbane. 
The Gouldian district was Charters Towers, 
some considerable distance inland from Brisbane. 
Sometime in 1886, I received a letter from the 
( aptain of the S.S. " Bulimba," one of the B.I.S.S. 
licet, enclosing ■■■ dead specimen ol a highly col- 
oured redheaded bird, totally new to me. Never 
had I seen sin h i small finch with such wondrous 
plumage. i was card nils examining the speci- 
men when one of the Mr. Jamrach's entered the 
shop. He gave me the startling information thai 
there were onlj another five such birds in Europe; 
they were of great value and were known as the 
Gouldian Pinch. 
The Captain had evident! 
Jamrach and also rmself. Th 
n Mr. Ch 
■ 40 bird- 
all. The price was £10 each. If I required them 
I was to meet the steamer at Plymouth taking 
delivery there. 
I must candidlv confess I could not then mus- 
ter £400' for 40 birds. 
I resolved to wait the arrival of the steamer 
in the Royal Albert Docks, taking' a chance of 
buying at a lower figure. 
Mr. Jamrach went to Plymouth, but could 
not agree as to price. He considered the price 
prohibitive. I met the steamer at Gravesend. 
There, were twenty dozen mixed Cherry, Double- 
banded, Parson, and other small finches, which I 
purchased at twenty shillings a dozen. That was 
the usual price in those days. Two Aery Black 
Apes from Batavia. Forty Red and Black-headed 
Gouldian Finches. The Ca'ptain asked then £5 
each. I offered £2, each, which was refused. He 
took the birds home to Kensington the same day. 
I then mentioned the arrival of the birds to a Con- 
tinental Dealer who happened to be staying at 
his accustomed house, "The Brown Bear," Leman 
Street, E. He was willing to give £3 each. We 
called at Kensington the following morning and, 
after a very long discussion as to their value, the 
Captain accepted £120 for the lot. 
On their arrival at Leman Street, the late 
Joseph Abrahams and Charles Jamrach bought 
five pairs each, the remainder went to the Con- 
tinent. My commission was £20. Thisi was the 
first deal in Gouldians in the history of the trade. 
I disposed of the twenty dozen mixed finches 
to the Continental Dealer, the Black Apes went to 
Messrs. Jennison, Belle Vue. Manchester. I then 
resolved to< pay particular attention to the monthly 
steamers from Queensland. The next arrival of 
birds from that region consisted of 1 Ganga Cock- 
atoo, 20' mixed Bloodwings, King Parrots and 
Mealy Rosellas. In those days we paid ten shil- 
lings each all round for Parrots and Parrakeets, 
sixty shillings lor the Ganga. Some passengers 
brought a few pairs of Gouldians not for sale. 
A considerable time now elapsed before any 
quantity of Gouldians arrived. 
They were brought by a Mr. Owen, the sail- 
maker of l he steamer. He had the extraordinary 
number of 200 1 Red and Blackheads. The price 
asked was 15/- each. They were ultimately bought 
b\ the same Continental Dealer for 10/- each. 
After this they arrived in small quantities on each 
steamer, the price keeping to 10/- for quite twelve 
months. 
There then arrived an old Queensland Bird 
(atelier with a considerable number which spoilt 
the market. He took them to some friends of his 
in the City Road, selling out as best he could, 
w holcsale and retail. 
(To be continued. J 
