OPENING ADDRESS. i 
between them. But don’t let me mislead any of my 
hearers: the tactics in a contest with a ram are not 
suitable against a goat; of which I had had evidence some 
few years previously in the burial ground at the back of 
the College of Surgeons in London when on an errand to 
Professor Owen. ‘There two billy-goats were fighting 
among the tombstones, and their way of settling differ- 
ences was to rise to their full height on their hind legs, 
face to face, and to fall with all the force they could 
muster, front to front, and horns to horns, with fearfully 
resounding blows. 
In the journal which I kept at Knowsley from 1848 
onwards, and in which all the births, deaths and other 
notable events in regard to the collection were entered 
day by day I find many records bearing upon the extraor- 
dinary mishaps which befell some of the animals, the 
difficulties that had to be met and the precautions taken— 
especially in the rearing of the young animals. Here is 
an entry :—‘‘ March 19th, 1844. A male Alpaca born. Itis 
a fine strong little animal, and for some time after birth was 
going on very well. Mr. Thompson (the superintendent) 
went to it again in an hour or two and then found it all 
but dead with cold and weakness. He then shifted it 
from the Wapiti paddocks to the old aviary where he 
fitted up a snug warm place for it. After a good deal of 
nursing it came round a bit and soon gathered strength. 
It is hke the mother all over of a black colour.” It is 
eratifying to read that ten days later, ‘‘ March 29th. The 
young Alpaca is in such good health and is so strong that 
it is able to roam about with its dam outside the aviary. 
It enjoys its liberty and is very lively and playful.” 
Here is another entry of the birth of an Alpaca just a 
month later :—‘‘ April 29th, 1844. A male Alpaca born— 
black all over, but the mother is quite white except a 
