HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



27 



order between the gazelle and giraffe — nearer 

 the latter than the former — with shorter hind 

 legs than fore, and strongly-formed head, 

 which at first sight appears all mouth, sur- 

 mounted by a cranial hump, and flanked bv 

 two very mobile ears of disproportionate size. 

 A thick, blue tongue, which can compass the 

 entire head, allows it to grasp food at a good 

 distance, and also to moisten its big, dreamy 

 eyes, which protrude like those of a lobster. 

 Its skin is soft, silky as an otter, and of the 

 same colour, except for a patch of pure white 

 on the breast, and stripes on the thighs like a 

 zebra. It grazes on the leaves of the hibiscus 

 and sweet potato. This fodder, having run 

 out on the ship, it accepted 1 willingly, though 

 with some delicacy, the bread offered by pas- 

 sengers, who took the greatest interest in its 

 welfare. Of delightful docility, it followed its 

 masters, who reared it since it was a few 

 days old, quite meekly, as though it fully 

 appreciated their care of it in Lower Uelle in 

 its feeding-bottle days. Nevertheless, train- 

 shaking and tethering upset it, and, owing 

 to shocks and lack of green fodder, it pined 

 away to such an extent that, had the sea 

 journey been prolonged, it would not have 

 survived. It is satisfactory to know that it 

 is now safely lodged in our Antwerp Zoo 

 "in clover." Dr. Lebrun, the well-known 

 explorer, who, with great efforts and extra- 

 ordinary care, managed to bring it to Europe, 

 deserves the praise and thanks of the scien- 

 tific world, to which its arrival is an event 

 of no small importance. This will be better 

 understood when we state that the zoological 

 section of the British Museum offered £10,000 

 for the phenomenal specimen which, however, 

 will remain with us — a glory of our Antwerp 

 Garden." 



I cannot understand "The Times" when its 

 states that the Zoological Society of London had 

 arranged to purchase this animal. I knew for 

 months past this animal was destined for the Zoo- 

 logical Gardens, Antwerp. 



The Belgian Authorities will take very good 

 care that very few Okapis will be allowed to other 

 countries. It would have been possible to have 

 sent a special representative to the Congo for this 

 animal, but then a journey to the East Coast would 

 have had to be taken. 



The description given by the "Action Nation- 

 ale" is very interesting. 



I do not for one moment believe that the 

 British Museum offered £10,000 for this animal. 



That would indeed have been a ridiculous 

 figure to pay. 



Other Okapis are now bound to arrive. The 

 opening up of the Okapi region will enable the 

 Congo hunters to capture other specimens, and, 

 within a few years the price will be considerably 

 less than £1,000 (one thousand pounds). The 

 various Zoological Societies will be enabled to 

 profit by the experience gained by the Antwerp 

 Gardens over this, the first arrival. 



It is a question whether this interesting 

 stranger will survive a hard winter. Some years 

 back when in the Congo region it was my ambition 

 to be the first to introduce the Okapi to Europe. 

 I am indeed disappointed. Still, I wish the little 

 fellow a long life in that famous establishment, 

 the Antwerp Zoological Gardens. 



THE TRADE. 



By John D. Hamlyn. 



The good steamship "Malakuta" arrived off 

 Southend on the 13th August with the following 

 stock : — ' 



4 baby female Elephants, 4ft., 4|ft., 5ft. 

 and 5Jft. high. 



2 adult Tigers, females. 



1 Tiger Cub, male. 



1 Black Leopard. 



1 Himalayan Bear. 



120 Rhesus Monkeys. 



1 large Pigtail. 



1 Japanese Ape. 



22 exceptionally large Python >n.i ! :cs. 



6 Indian Squirrels. 



1300 mixed small Birds. 



20 very large Nepaulese Minahs. 



43 Indian Shamahs. 



22 Parrots. 



150 Thibetan Birds of great rarety. 



There being no berth ready for the steamer in 

 the Tilbury Docks, and hearing it would be quite 

 a week before she docked, I determined to clear 

 all stock possible overside; with that end in view 

 I chartered a tug from Messrs. Watkins, and on 

 the following morning, August 14th, I proceeded 

 to the steamer and took delivery of twenty-nine 

 cases. This proved a very expensive undertak- 

 ing. The loading at Tilbury pier was a serious 

 problem. They were sent to Fenchurch Street 

 Station in three trains, for only a certain space 

 could be allotted for this exceptional traffic by 

 each train. There were no casualties en route. 



