HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



following shot, which seemed to ricochet, and the 

 quiet waters closed the first act. Speculation as 

 to results has not been crystallised into fact as 

 yet, as the hippo has not been seen again." 



In our issue of February 12th, "Plague," 

 Natal, wrote as follows : — 



"Can any reader of your valuable paper let 

 me know what to use for destroying cockroaches, 

 which are a plague in my house?", 



REPLY. 



The Assistant Chief, Division of Entomo- 

 logy, replies : — 



"Plague" should purchase some sodium 

 flouride, and a small puff-gun to scatter it with. 

 If he dusts the crevices and places frequented 

 by them occasionally, the roaches will soon dis- 

 appear. This powder can be used with safety 

 generally, but must not be applied directly to 

 foodstuffs. 



At a recent meeting of the Uitenhage Divi- 

 sional Council the Magistrate (Mr. Gibbs) asked 

 each of the country members for a rough esti- 

 mate of the number of koodoo in the district, 

 evidently for official purposes. The concensus of 

 opinion was that there must be five or six hun- 

 dred. 



Mr. Gibbs : According to the police there are 

 four thousand. 



Several Members : Ridiculous ! 

 Mr. Gibbs : I thought it rather ; 



lot. 



Sportsmen will learn with interest (says the 

 "Pretoria News") that large numbers of "whist- 

 ling teal" — white-faced tree duck — have appeared 

 on the Springbok Flats. This bird has a clear 

 whistling cry, and is fairly easy to shoot, as it 

 circles round its pan or pool, giving many oppor- 

 tunities for the "choke." There is no record of 

 any of ts eggs having been taken in Africa. 



It will be news to many people to learn that 

 canary seed is. produced in the Union on a com- 

 mercial scale, especially in the East London dis- 

 trict, where the genuine type, i.e. , the Larache 

 or Mazagan, is principally grown. Last sea- 

 son's crop in that district, which was not as good 

 as it has been in years past, amounted to 300,000 

 lbs. The yield of the crop may be judged from 

 the fact that, on one farm for which figures are 

 ovailablc, 52 lbs. of Mazagan seed gave a return 

 of 21,200 lbs. 



ZULULAND BIG GAME. 



In the territory or locality known as the 

 "Hluhluwe" Game Reserve, situate and being 

 about fifteen miles due north of Somkele, in 

 Zululand, may be seen the wonderful creature 

 known as the black rhinoceros of South Africa, 

 says the "E.P. Herald." 



During the latter part of' the month of Sep- 

 tember the "Hluhluwe" Game Reserve may be 

 considered as dressed in its best, for then the 

 pasture is fresh and green intermingled with wild 

 flowers and trees, with their new growth of 

 leaves making a most pleasant picture. The 

 " Hluhluwe" Reserve is very hilly, and presents 

 excellent natural shelter for the rhinoceros, buffa- 

 lo, koodoo, waterbuck, and many other interest- 

 ing animals, all of which are easily approached to 

 within what may be termed close quarters, by 

 reason of the cover, which is so plentiful on the 

 eastern side of the Reserve. The Reserve is 

 easily approached by wagon by the road which 

 proceeds north from Somkele. 



The rhinoceros wanders from hill to hill, 

 rarely remaining in any one place for any length 

 of time. Along the eastern boundary of the 

 Reserve are signs of recent tenancy by the " rhino" 

 at many sites, thus convincing the pedestrian 

 that at any moment it may be possible to sudden- 

 ly arrive at within a few yards of the wonderful 

 animal, by reason of the cover referred to. The 

 eastern boundary of the Reserve is more or less 

 along the ridge or edge of the basin, from which 

 a beautiful and most extensive view of the Reserve 

 is obtainable. The pedestrian in the Reserve at 

 once realises that such is the haunt of wild ani- 

 mals, for there are no dwellings or habitations of 

 man, and the atmosphere is undisturbed by steam 

 whistles, hooters, and the like. No, public road 

 is (here, and the Reserve thus is the "palace" 

 of the wild animal. There are many streams of 

 delightful clear-running water, with plenty of 

 shelter to keep cool and refreshing. During Sep- 

 tember there are but few pests in way of ticks, 

 mosquitoes, and flies; in fact, the pedestrian need 

 not worry about the matter of malaria fever, for 

 there is no apparent means of conveying that 

 much-dreaded disease to man. 



The Natal Provincial Government controls 

 the Reserve, and protection is afforded the animals 

 there by total prohibition of entrance by the 

 would-be hunter or destroyer of beautiful crea- 

 tures to that area. Long may such prohibition 

 exist should be the desire of all in the interests of 

 science and pleasure. 



Attention may be drawn to the mounted spe- 

 cimen and skins of the black rhino in the Natal 

 Museum and Durban Museum, which in a mea- 

 sure enables the would-be tourist to picture the 



