REMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 175 
minute. So they battled all day, and at night it was the breaker that 
was broken. A lot of the gearing was left on the little animal, and he 
was fastened in his stall with the martingale still on his head. Next 
morning the fun began again and the hybrid was so sure that it was 
fun that he entered into it with unbounded zest. A night’s rest had 
restored the breaker’s spirits to their wonted elasticity. When leaving 
the Zoo the first night he was asked how he was getting on. ‘T’ve been 
trying to get on all day !” he answered, somewhat testily ; but next morn- 
ing he said cheerily: “We’ll be riding him into town in a day or two!” 
But his optimism failed him before the day was out. The same im- 
pregnable obstinacy proved far too much for the tamer, who, as the day 
wore on, and as his patience wore out, strapped one of the animal’s legs 
up, and then tried to mount him. Even thus handicapped, the young 
terror managed to throw the man three or four times, and, when he found 
that bucking meant his own downfall under this new treatment, he 
decided to lie down. He resented all attempts to make him rise, and 
once, when he lifted his head in protest, he managed to hit the trainer 
in the face with his muzzle, giving him two perfectly black eyes. The 
most that could be done with the outlaw after two days’ strenuous exer- 
tion was to lead him two or three steps when the animal forgot what he 
was about. Recollecting himself, he owed it to his whole future peace 
of mind to stand stock still at once, and of course he did so. The third 
day’s toil was a repetition of the first and second, and, as night closed 
that day, Mr. Meaker asked about the promised ride into town. 
“That’ll never be,” came the disconsolate answer. “He’s the great- 
est outlaw I ever tackled, and I’m going to give him best.” 
The hybrid’s strike was as successful as that of Queenie against 
ploughing, and, as the result of three days’ determination, he has enjoyed 
twenty years of care-free idleness. 
. EAGLES AND VULTURES 
TRUANTS. 
There are now about’ fifteen of the great Australian wedge-tailed 
eagles in a paddock near the outer fence of the gardens, and people are 
often puzzled to know why they tamely submit to captivity when they 
are free to the open sky. The attendants are asked if they are not 
