HOKSE-DEALING. 
Apropos of horse-dealing, Mr. , a dealer in rabbits, 
guinea-pigs and pigeons, who was in the habit of su]3plying 
the Gardens with these articles of food for the animals, 
knowing that a great number of horses also are required, 
felt that he could extend his business by supplying horses 
as well as other small fry. 
He thought to secure, in time, the patronage of the 
Society, and then provide all the live stock used as food 
for the animals in the collection. 
His first attempt was, for him, rather an unfortunate 
speculation. He appeared one morning at my gate with 
his first equine specimen, a poor, miserable, bony pony. 
I at once told him it was not good enough for our 
purposes, and he was much astonished when I refused to 
have it at any price. He appealed to me by saying that it 
was the first transaction of the kind he had ever attempted, 
that he had kept the pony for a fortnight, had fed it 
well in the hopes of fattening it, and that it had cost him 
altogether about fifty shillings. Of course it was quite 
optional on my part to believe this statement, and, turning 
a deaf ear to his entreaties, I ordered him to take it away, 
as I would not allow it to come into the Gardens, even as 
a gift. A few days after he came with a supply of guinea- 
pigs and pigeons, which I bought of him at the usual price 
commonly paid for such commodities. After I had settled 
with him, and he was leaving, I felt a little curious to 
know what had become of his valuable pony. “ Well,” said 
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