74 HAMLYN’S 
The Trade. 
By Joun D. Hamtyn. 
The most notable featif&e of the Trade dur. 
ing the past five weeks has been the demand for 
small animals by the Circus and Menageries now 
going out on the road. 
Several Circuses have already moved out, 
in fact there is a general race to be the first away 
and showing. 
A week or so ago I was in a quiet Surrey 
town when I noticed several menagerie wagons 
on their way. Curiosity prompted me to read the 
owner’s name on the wagons ts they passed 
along. I thought I recognised the wagons, but 
no, it could not be for they belonged to “ Ring- 
lands Circus.” 
I now find this to be the Drake-Swallow-and- 
Taylor Combination. It is evident they are 
working under ‘“Ringland,” being an old-time 
American Circus and Menagerie of great fame. 
I wonder what the Ringling Brothers of America 
think of their foster show here. There will be 
more than one general bust-up during this com- 
ing season. 
Just as I am going to press, I receive the 
interesting information from North Africa that 
my representative has purchased tw elve Drome- 
daries. I have no desire to bring these over un- 
til the beginning of April. 
From Southern Rhodesia I have received 
particulars of a collection of animals which were 
sold to the Agent of the Bronx Park Zoological 
Gardens. The prices are remarkable, lt is 
quite evident no dealer could enter into the 
Rhodesian Market if these prices rule, and fur- 
thermore any man paying such prices would be 
a consumate fool of a mean order. African Ele- 
phants, £350; Giraffes, £300; Elands, Koodoos, 
Sables, Gemsbuck, Hartebeest, £56 to £60 each. 
The Elephants and Giraffes would cost quite an- 
other £100, and the Antelopes quite £50, delivered 
London. I now learn that two Giraffes are dead. 
The Bronx Park are paying bitterly for their 
interference in the wild animal trade. 
During the past forty years my experience 
has been that these Zoological Societies ruin 
every branch of the animal trade that they inter- 
fere with. 
In former years Giraffes and Elephants were 
‘£100 each, and would have remained so to this 
day only for scientific interference. The Giraffe 
and Elephant Market was Kassala, Sudan. 
Directly the Sudan Game fell under scientific con- 
trol, a prohibited export duty was placed on the 
MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
larger game. But even then if a dealer we 
terprising enough to make a collection in 
Lower and Upper Sudan, it was only subject 
the animals not being required by the Zoologica 
Gardens at Giza. This shows the despe 
straits Scientific Societies go to crush the Wild 
Animal Dealer. They have themselves to thank. 
for the extraordinary prices ruling to-day. Th 
forget that but for the enterprise of the Jam- 
rachs, Charles and William, Charles Rice, Carl — 
Hagenbecks, Louis Rude amd Charlie Reiche, — 
Zoological Gardens would have been in sore — 
straits for the rarer animals. Read the pro- 
ceedingsg of any Society and vou will find the 
larger animals were all supplied at the outset by 
the above-mentioned dealers. And now our re- 
ward is attempted prohibition. 
The Rhodesia Hunter has asked me to state 
that he is leaving in May on one o his hunting 
experitions. He writes :— 
“T am also open to take people out on my 
expedition and give them a real good trip. 
My fees are £150 per month, per man; 1) 
supply transport and horses. If you can do 
anything for me in this line I-shall be very 
grateful to you. I am enclosing you a few — 
snaps taken in my last trip; show these to 
some keen sportsmen.” 
Here is an opportunity for would-be hunters. | 
Advices from my collector in South Africa 
state that I may expect a collection of Puff Ad- 
ders, Tree Snakes, Mole Snakes, and what he 
calis Sheepstickers (Schapstickers), also two 
White-tailed Gnus, some very large Baboons — 
and Waxbills. 
The young Hippopotamus depicted above is 
the first Hippo to pass through my hands. It 
can be delivered in April or May. 
Last week I was offered a pigmy Hippopota- 
mus from Liberia. I made what I considered a 
good offer for the animal on the spot, taking the 
precaution of arranging for insurance home- 
ward. Once more the curse of a dealer’s life— 
the Scientific Society—steps in. A thousanlii 
pounds was asked, price offered in New York. __ 
The Cuban consignment is due here about — 
the end of March. There will be no more Cuban 
expeditions so far as I am concerned. Full par- 
ticulars of birds to arrive will be found in Price 
List accompanying this Magazine. 
The Seals and Sea Lions are due at the | 
of March. The severe weather in New York 
answerable for the delay of the Sea Lions. 
The arrival of a new pair of South Af 
Finches is worth recording. Hartlaubs 
faced Finches (Pytelia nitidula) they are some 
