* 



\S<^ 



HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE, fi 



JUL ^ . it 



I have to go round the country looking for 

 them at the different farms. Yesterday I rode 

 forty kilos to see some that I heard were for 

 sale, but they were all large and very dirty and 

 all males into the bargain. 



I am hoping to' get four more during the com- 

 ing week. 



With regards birds I have got eight varie- 

 ties. I am giving you a description of them as I 

 only know the names of two varieties. These are 

 the Goldfinch and Crested Lark; of the latter I 

 have so far only got two as thej catchers say that 

 they are the most difficult bird to catch. There 

 are quite 100 Goldfinches, and these seem larger 

 birds than the English ones. I have also a bird 



</, 



ber to March which I fosQefVc/is .the rainy, season. 

 I have tried my best to< getTfr eiu, h areTtold every- 

 body I have come into contact with in the coun- 

 try, and everybody in Mogador knows what I am 

 after. I have hopes of sending you two barrels 

 of Tortoises by the next steamer. 



This is a, peculiar country. Everything is at 

 a prohibitive price. Collecting in Morocco* is not 

 a healthy occupation. I paid nine francs nightly 

 for my bedroom in one of the best hotels. My 

 first experience, was dreadful. I awoke the first 

 night feeling just as if I was in a Turkish bath, 

 lighted the candle and discovered I was invaded 

 by hordes of insects, everyone living and very 

 active. I captured in a few moments 150 large- 

 sized bugs, about 120 extraordinarily large lice, 



something like our Greenfinch, only much larger; 

 also birds green spotted and black. Then I have 

 some like our Chawfinch, also Buntings. The 

 next are large slate coloured, backs white, belly 

 brown, heads with black ring round the: neck. 

 The next is a very small bird spotted yellow and 

 slate with yellow head and breast. The last is a 

 brown bird with a bright red bar running across 

 its head and bright red bar across its breast. 

 It is also my intention to bring some Vultures, 

 Eagles and Sand Grouse. 



I have 2 Snakes, 5 Lizards about a foot long, 

 20 Chameleons, and only a few Tortoises. Res- 

 pecting Tortoises I find out this is wrong season 

 for them as they bury themselves during the 

 summer. The right season for them is in Decem- 



but the fleas were there in irmies and armies, 

 and I fled. 1 sought refuge on the roof of the 

 hotel where I cursed the insects, the camels, and 

 everyone in general. 



I shall continue to do my best for you whilst 

 here, but I beg of }o>u to th ; nk kindly of me when 

 you turn into rest at St. George's Street. 



Do* you require a sample of the various in- 

 sects out here? You might have a friend to 

 whom you would wish to send them. My first 

 night in Mogador has made a lasting impression 

 on my mind. 



Shall be home shortly. 



