8 



HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



feeding them on rabbits and so forth, he said, 

 and they multiply freely in a suitable climate, 

 such as that of the Orkneys. 



And what are the financial considerations 

 presuming the foxes could not escape from an 

 island or large enclosed area? Well, in 1917 

 astonishing prices were obtained by Newfound- 

 land trappers. For example, the sums given 

 for blue fox skins were £15 10s, each; for 

 white fox skins £9 10s. each; and for a skin 

 of the exceedingly rare silver fox as high as 

 £91. A lady who possessed a silver fox fur 

 coat had "some" coat, as the Americans would 

 say — something to boast about ! 



THAT "The Field" gives particulars of the 

 record Tigress shot in Nepal by His Highness 

 the Maharajah of Bikaner on March 31st, 1920. 

 Length of body, 6ft. 5in.; length of tail, 3ft. 

 2in.; total length, 9ft. 7in.; girth, 3ft. 6£in.; 

 head, 2ft. 3|in. ; forearm, 1ft. 5^in. ; height, 

 3ft. lin. Trulv a remarkable beast. 



THAT a baby Seal has arrived at Regents Park. 



THAT a specimen of the Hoopoe has been found 

 in Staffordshire. 



THAT an African publication gives the follow- 

 ing :— 



The "Petworth," I hear, will have an 

 interesting cargo when she sails from Moroc- 

 co within the next fortnight or so>. It is ex- 

 pected that she will bring a young menagerie 

 to Mr. Hamlyn, the famous animal dealer 

 in London. Waiting to embark there are 

 six fine young camels about a year and a 

 half old, and by the time she sails six more 

 will have joined the contingent. Numerous 

 birds are included, as well as all sorts of 

 animals. No apes are likely to be brought 

 over from Morocco for some time. They 

 have disappeared from North Africa entirely, 

 it is said, the reason attributed to this is the 

 fighting which has been going on in the 

 country. 



THAT just as I am going to press Mr. Vice tele- 

 graphs as follows : — 



"8 Camels, 19 Snakes, 11 Lizards, 70 Gold- 

 finches, 100 Seedeaters, 14 Redbreasts, 16 

 Chaffinches, 50 Larks, 12 Buntings, 20 

 Chameleons, 3 Jackals, ship probably Pet- 

 worth. " 



There will be Tortoises. I am now quite pre- 

 pared to sell above subject to safe arrival. In- 

 tending buyers please note. 



THAT I am receiving shortly an Albino Red- 

 backed Shirke. Price on application. 



THAT the "Daily Mail" gives the following ac- 

 count of the despatch of three Rattlesnakes to 

 the Natural History Museum, Paris : — 



"Three large Rattlesnakes have just 

 been acquired by Mr. J. D. Hamlyn, the 

 London animal dealer. They lay, with 



others, in a sunken enclosure having a glass 

 front, and it was necessary to pack them for 

 transport. 



" Describing the wriggling coils of mus- 

 cle and venom as "beauties," two experts 

 started on their task by lowering a large 

 metal box into the cage. Promptly the rat- 

 tles started — imagine an annoyed telephone 

 subscriber turning the old-fashioned handle, 

 and the bell-hammer hitting the wooden case 

 instead of metal bells. Every tail stood up 

 and every rattle threatened death and des- 

 truction to the intruder. 



"Next their feelings were outraged by 

 a long rod which was thrust under the first 

 of the victims selected for the purchase. As 

 the snake felt his balance upset, he coiled 

 round the rod and clung to it. With a heave 

 he was lifted up and shaken into the metal 

 box, and his exploring nose was tapped 

 when he tried to get out again. Two mora 

 rattlesnakes, buzzing with rage, were placed 

 in the same box and the heavy lid was 

 shut with the rod. 



"The box was then lifted out with the 

 cord and the experts started the more tick- 

 lish operation of moving them into a wooden 

 packing case. 



" This lay without a lid beside the metal 

 box, and here the expert packers had to work 

 at closer quarters with the reptiles. A sheet 

 of gauze was slipped partly over the wooden 

 case and was drawn tight when the first 

 snake slithered in. The gauze was carefully 

 slackened to admit the others with the ever- 

 ready rod poised to' foil a striking snake. 



"Finally, with only the gauze between 

 the packers and the fangs of the thoroughly 

 angry rattlesnakes, batten were nailed across 

 the top to complete the boxing up. A girl 

 messenger could have carried them without 

 the least fear when this neat piece of work 

 was over. — L. G.M." 



Printed by W. J. Hasted & Son (T.U.), 306, Mile End Road, E. 1., and Published by J. D. Hamlyn, 221, St. George's jU*u 



Street, London Docks, E. 



