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HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 



The head of the local museum here has 

 received information from a Mr. Lepage, who 

 was in charge of railway construction in the 

 Belgian Congo, of an exciting adventure last 

 month. While Lepage was hunting one day 

 in October he came upon an extraordinary 

 monster, which charged at him. Lepage fired 

 but was forced to flee, with the monster in 

 chase. The animal before long gave up the 

 chase and Lepage was able to examine it 

 through his binoculars. The animal, he says, 

 was about 24ft. in length, with a long pointed 

 snout adorned with tusks like horns and a 

 short horn above the nostrils. The front 

 feet were like those of a horse and the hind 

 hoofs were cloven. There was a scaly hump 

 on the monster's shoulders. 



The animal later charged through the 

 native village of Fungurume, destroying the 

 huts and killing some of the native dwellers. 

 A hunt was at once organized, but the Gov- 

 ernment has forbidden the molestation of the 

 animal, on the ground that it is probably a 

 relic of antiquity. There is a wild trackless 

 region in the neighbourhood, which contains 

 many swamps and marshes, where, says the 

 - head of the museum, it is possible that a few 

 primeval monsters may survive. 



The Central News, Johannesburg, also sends 

 the following : — 



A well-known big game hunter, in a let- 

 ter to the Press, states that some years ago 

 he shot a huge animal in Uganda resembling 

 the beast lately reported from the Belgian 

 Congo. 



The carcase was carried away by the 

 driver before he was able to reach it. 



I have never doubted the existence of mon- 

 sters in the Central African swamps. 



Fifteen years ago when collecting in the 

 Transvaal I had an interesting account of a mon- 

 ster, described as half snake, half beast. My in- 

 formant who was in the Rhodesian Police, was 

 patrolling in Barotseland, and approached within 

 a hundred yards of the beast who was asleep on 

 the borders of a swamp. It was, he declares, 

 100 feet long, and so startled him, that it glided 

 off into' the swamp before he could raise his gun. 

 It travelled quite noiselessly, but with great speed. 

 The country roundabout was quite unexplored, the 

 haunt of Hippos and Waterbuck. My informant 

 kept the information to himself, and assured me 

 that I was the first to whom he had mentioned it. 



The "Illustrated London News," November 

 22nd, has a " Reconstruction Drawing by 

 Forestier" of the biggest of all Quadrupeds — 

 Gigantosaurus." The bones of this reptile were 



discovered in East Africa in 1912 and taken to 

 Berlin. 



Should any of my readers desire to discover 

 new animals and reptiles, I should advise them 

 to pay a visit to Fernan Faz and Sette Cama, 

 proceed from thence to' the interior, the major 

 portion of which country has never been explored; 

 there they will find the Water Elephant, the Giant 

 Snakes, the Old Man Gorillas — the latter in 

 abundance. 



FRENCH IMPORTS. 



The arrivals in France — Bordeaux, Havre 

 and Marseilles — are commencing. 



There have been Senegal birds and animals, 

 Chinese, Indian and Mexican birds at the various 

 ports. 



It really seems that the French trade will 

 soon revert to normal times. 



SOUTH AFRICAN IMPORTS. 



On or about December 13th I shall receive a 

 collection from a private collector in the Trans- 

 vaal district which deserves more than passing 

 notice. 



There are White-bellied Sunbirds, Claret- 

 breasted Sunbirds, Hornbills, Thrushes, Barbets, 

 Whydahs, Lowries, Larks, and 350 mixed 

 Finches, also three kinds of Suricates, with two 

 Rock Rabbits : fourteen boxes in all. A really 

 wonderful collection worthy of inspection by every 

 amateur. 



There is also* a rumour of another consign- 

 ment of African mixed Finches being brought 

 home privately. I have no other information on 

 the matter as regards ownership or when due 

 here. 



COLLECTING AGENTS. 



My clients can be sure of large arrivals of 

 foreign birds during 1920. 



I have three collectors out — one in Cuba, one 

 in Transvaal district, and one in Cape Colony. 

 On and after February, 1920, there should be 

 three arrivals monthly. I have also arranged for 

 small supplies of Australian birds every two 

 months. 



The Indian consignments will not commence 

 until end of February. 



SENEGAL STOCK. 



I have received a very interesting letter from 

 a correspondent in Dakar. Here are some ex- 

 tracts from the letter : — 



