WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
the zinc one which was hanging over the door outside. 
The poor waiter was doubled up with laughter, at which 
Franks got in a rage, but he was obliged to content 
himself after all with the miniature lobsters. 
A GHOST-LIKE STORY. 
This is how it happened. Returning late one evening 
from town, after all the family had gone to bed, and find- 
ing everything quiet, I retired to my downy couch. How 
long I had been asleep I am unable to say, but I can call 
to mind a frightful noise that caused me to leave my bed 
and listen. I very distinctly heard footsteps with a rust- 
ling sound, something like moving paper, in the passage 
below. Opening my bedroom door I went to the head of 
the stairs, and asked “ Who’s there ? ” Receiving no answer, 
while at the same time I could still hear the soft footsteps, 
I returned to my room, lighted a candle and charged my 
revolver. The thought now came. Can it be one of the 
family walking in his or her sleep ? Before, however, I had 
time to determine what to do, I heard the rustling, together 
with the footsteps, coming up-stairs. 
My determination what to do at that moment is rather 
difficult to describe, but I kept perfectly quiet and listened 
in great anxiety, as the object slowly walked up the passage 
rustling against the door and wainscot. I was now per- 
fectly certain that whatever it was I had a good chance of 
finding out. Opening the door and with light in hand I 
beheld at the end of the passage a large black vulture, 
with its enormous wings spread out, the very picture of a 
demon. How it came into the house was soon explained. 
It happened that late in the evening, after the Gardens 
were closed and the keepers had all left, a sailor brought 
the bird from on board ship squeezed into a large sack, 
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