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abounded in the neighbouring river Hull; and Pennant says that 
two or three waters in Wales still bear the name of Llynyr-assange, 
or the beaver lake. Now there are situations in abundance in the 
above-named counties where there is a great lake or stream, where 
beavers would, I am convinced, if properly protected and looked 
after, again establish their species. We all know how interesting 
this pretty harmless water engineer is in his habits; the ladies know 
how useful his fur is, and the hunters tell us he makes a capital dish 
when properly cooked. The specimens are exhibited by Mr. Roberts, 
furrier, Regent-street. 
There is, I think, a vacancy in our English parks and farms for 
another useful and ornamental animal, which might easily be procured 
from Australia, My hearers, I see, have anticipated me when I 
recommend the kangaroo to their notice. I will not dilate upon their 
merits, but ask my readers to examine the flock of them at the 
zoological gardens, and to hear, what the able and energetic secretary 
of the Zoological Society, Mr. Sclater, says about them. Bennett’s 
kangaroo is the most abundant species in Australia, extremely hardy, 
and much the best calculated for acclimatisation in an English park. 
In favourable localities it breeds with regularity, and with very little 
attention would rapidly increase in any of the Midland or Southern 
counties, where the soil is dry and the character of the ground affords 
shelter from the north-east. Gould asserts the excellence of 
kangaroo venison as a meat for the tabic, and the introduction of 
these animals would therefore be something more than a mere 
zoological luxury. Mr. Gould has kindly lent me a specimen of this 
animal. The skin makes good leather. There are many places, 
he tells me, in England whore it would thrive admirably. 
But we must not forget to mention an animal which would be very 
useful in this country, if it would live, but I fear the climate of 
England is not suited for it. There is now iu common use a 
substance which is called “ alpaca,” and much might be written and 
said upon this subject. I prefer, however, to quote the words of my 
friend, Dr. Laukester, who, in his admirable lectures on the uses of 
animals in relation to man,* thus writes:— 
“ But I now' pass to a family of animals that has recently yielded 
a large increase to our cloth manufacture. I allude to the Alpaca 
tribe or family, allied to the camels and dromedaries. When Pizarro 
conquered Peru, he found these animals employed as beasts of burden, 
and their wool used for making clothing. The Peruvian Government 
has placed an embargo upon the exportation of these creatures, so that 
we have only now and then seen tliem as curiosities in the collec- 
Robert Hardwicko, 192 Piccadilly. Price Is. 
