‘J AMR A CH’S ’ 
190 
Milne Edwards at the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, 
who pronounced it to be a new species. 
The prices of rare animals, often differing little in 
general appearance from common species, are high 
enough at present to make the wild-beast trade a 
lucrative business. But it would be a mistake to 
suppose that the pursuit of this profession, or even 
the business of owning and exhibiting wild beasts, is 
solely a matter of sale and barter, or mere money- 
making. In all connected with the sale or manage- 
ment of wild animals with whom the writer is 
acquainted, there is a genuine naturalist’s appreciation 
in the creatures they deal in, often existing side by 
side with something of that pride in maintaining 
animals in good condition which they share in com- 
mon with the whole race of breeders of prize cattle, 
race-horse trainers, masters of hounds and huntsmen, 
down to the labourers with their pigs. From the 
highest to the lowest, they seem to know most of 
what is going on, not only in the different menageries 
of England, but also on the continents. The masters 
and owners will meet one another often in the course 
of business, and the men pay cross visits to rival 
establishments, and discuss the latest additions or 
losses. We seldom fail to see at a circus or ex- 
hibition of performing animals the well-known faces 
of some of the keepers at the Zoo ; and when going 
round the houses at the Gardens, the best-known 
owners of circuses, the lion-tamers or elephant-trainers 
of the ring, may often be seen musing in front of the 
