HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



I received some 125 Cockatoos, 75 Finches, 

 a Kangaroo, 2 Snakes and 2 Squirrels on the 

 "Sueric. " I have also another consignment due 

 end of month. 



INDIAN 



Stocks are scarce. I cannot continue purchasing 

 at the present price of the rupee. 



AFRICAN 



Stocks are arriving regularly. I am offered a 

 Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Impala, Hartebeest, with 

 many other variety of animals. Of course, inflated 

 prices are asked, therefore the animals will have 

 to remain in Africa until the owners are reason- 

 able. 



I have, however, purchased a pair of forest- 

 bred Lions, a pair of Blue Gnus, with some Ba- 

 boons, and two Zebras. The prices are high; 

 this is caused by the exhorbitant freight charged 

 by the Union Castle Mail Shipping Company. 



Their charges are without any fairness or 

 reason, and are generally double the cost of the 

 stock in Africa. If you feel hurt at sale prices 

 charged, send in a strong remonstrance to the 

 Shipping Company in Fenchurch Street. 



HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



The young Hippo, imported by me was sold 

 to the Zoological Society. It is a famous bright 

 little creature and is going on well. 



DROMEDARIES. 



In another column will be found particulars 

 of the Dromedary Expedition — amusing, instruc- 

 tive and entertaining. 



BRAZILIAN 



Stocks should now be on the way. There will be 

 many small animals and a fine collection of birds. 



GENERAL TRADE 

 was never better. Sales are plentiful. The: 

 demand is great both in animals, Birds and Rep- 

 tiles. 



Enclosed is a list of present stock which I 

 think is a credit to any dealer considering present 

 day difficulties. 



Flame attack on Flying Foxes. 



During the past few months, experiments 

 have been conducted by the Queensland Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture to test the practicability of 

 destroying the flying fox by means of the flame- 



projecting apparatus used by the German Army 

 during the war. At first the results were rather 

 discouraging, and the method appeared likely to 

 be more dangerous to the operators than to their 

 intended victims. However, under the direction 

 of Mr. Brunnich, the chemist attached to the 

 Department of Agriculture, the experiments have 

 been continued, and latest accounts appear to be 

 much more hopeful. Indeed, it is claimed that 

 the efficacy of the instrument has now been proved 

 as the result of work accomplished at Eudlo, 

 though the execution wrought was not nearly so 

 great as would have been the case but for a slight 

 misunderstanding. Six flame-throwers were used 

 and the effective range wast increased to 60 or 70 

 feet by a variation in the proportion of petrol to 

 mobile oil in the mixture used. The plan of at- 

 tack adopted was the silent surrounding of the 

 "camp" by the party of six operators, and the 

 simultaneous discharge of the weapons at a given 

 signal — the blowing of a whistle. However, the 

 whistle of a passing locomotive was mistaken by 

 one of the operators for the signal, and a prema- 

 ture discharge took place, alarming the foxes and 

 causing them to retreat out of range before the 

 other flame-projectors were started. As it was, 

 between 200 and 300 of the animals were killed 

 by the first discharge, and it was held that the 

 practicability of destruction by this means had 

 been demonstrated. Mr. Brunnich considers that 

 operations could be facilitated by the use of smal- 

 ler machines, having a range of 200 to 250 feet, 

 that would be more portable and cheaper to 

 operate. He further suggested that ex-soldiers, 

 properly instructed, and wearing fire-proof over- 

 alls, might with advantage be employed wherever 

 accessible "camps" exist. 



Collecting Camels in Mogador. 



By J. H. B. Vice. 



I confirm cable, having bought 5 males, 2 

 females Dromedaries here. 



I am expecting three others shortly. The 

 animals are very expensive. It took me five days 

 to purchase the seven. I enclose you photograph 

 of six which will give you some idea as to size 

 and condition. 



It is very difficult to' buy the females as the 

 Moors wont sell them as they only look for the 

 production that they are going to bring. You 

 have to attend the weekly markets to purchase 

 them. The Wednesday market was the third 

 that I have been to* and only got one camel; there 

 were many others but wild and no good for our 

 use. 



