SHOW HUMOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 271, 15 November 1937, Page 5

SHOW HUMOUR.

QUAINT ARISTOCRATS.

HIGH-BORN ANCESTORS.

PIG NAMED GRETA GARBO.

(By Telejfrnph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

There is in a quiet pen at the Metropolitan Show a pig called Maesgwyn Greta Garbo. It does not speak in a Swedish accent, and, so far as is known, it does not want to go home. This is just one example of the quaintness of animal nomenclature with which one comes into close contact at the show, says "Dunsandel Donald" in the Christchurch "Star-Sun."

The casual reader might well be ' excused for dismissing the show catalogue as containing between its yellow ( covers nothing more Interesting than f long lists of exhibits—informative and . interesting to experts, but hardly to be recommended as light reading. It is ; unlikely that this year's catalogue will rub shoulders with the latest Wodehouse , in an honourcJ place on the family bookshelf. Yet it well merits a little study. A catalogue well repays the attention of any whimsical reader with a taste for the subtle in humour. With its aristocratic flavour and its detailed lists of the ancestors of high-born animals, it rivals the Almanach de Gotha. What Hungarian count, for example, could hope to rival in sonorous syllables the title Lucernvale Burkeyje Caesar? Yet this name is borne by an amiable Friesian bull. Class Distinction. It is just as well there » no class distinction among cattle. How the big Shorthorn bull, Dominion Silver Hero of Ruakara would sneer at the lowly Nancy in an adjoining pen. Milkmaid would sound an appropriate name for a Frie«land cow, but call the poor animal Lucernvale Burkeyje

Milkmaid and the social status of the (!0w and possibly that if it« owner as well, is immediately raised to dizzy height*.

Looking through the Shorthorn cattle section, one finds that all the I beet Shorthorns have moved to Ashley Bank. Ashley Bank Perfection. A*hley Bank Victor and Ashley Bank Independence are among the bovine visitors to the show from that district.

There is a strongly horticultural] flavour about the names of most of the cattle. Not mere Dai-<y. Snowdrop and so on, but such high-sounding titles as Cap»thorne Snowdrop Flower, Lenslea Cherry Blossom Model and Canterbury Boronia the Fourth abound. Otahuna, etc., etc. If a cow winks at a spectator passing its pen it is likely as not that it will be Otahuna Nothing Nicer the First, a most flirtatious beast. Any departure from decorum in her behaviour, however, is likely to be the subject of stern reproof from a Jersey bull called The Vicar.

Santa Rose Humming-Bird is a dainty little thing, and Star Patient is evidently takinz leave from a hospital to attend the show. Wendouree Pardone lows with a decidedly foreign accent, and an uproar from one of the Shorthorn bull pens suggest* that Park Farm Commotion U trying to live up to his name. Taraiua Silver Tresses and Wendouree Silver Locks are two Jersey heifers apparently prematurely aged, while when one reads a name like Lenslea Hero Posch, one cannot help wondering what the unfortunate animal has done to deserve it. Aristocratic Horses. For the real aristocracy of the show one must turn to the horse*. Princes, princesses, counts, lords and lairds are there in scores, but here, too, the democracy of the farmyard is apparent. Dan, ' Jock, Chum, Nugget, Sandy and Jack associate with them on equal terms.

Marina and Royal Romance seem to have something in common, while Real McKay and Decanter would certainly team well together. Scotsman may be an applicant for inclusion in this team also. Nellie McQuaid probably neighs with a broad Scottish accent, but Don Duff would understand her. Connemara Pat, Bellevue Jean, Dees Roeetta and

Ochtertyre White Flash make up an international group just about as representative as the League of Nations.^

Can one imagine an enormous Berkshire sow, a matron with offspring, called Fairview Winsome Lass? Either the breeder was blinded with affection for the mountainous animal or a streak of sarcasm prompted such an unusual choice. However, she is not alone in her troubles. Some member of the staff of the Canterbury Agricultural College probably ha» a libel action in view on account of the pig called Lincoln Housemaid, entered from the college. Jersey Park Bendigo, Balngore Charles. Lincoln Koyal Maid the Second, and Dromoreland Rose are very high-.sounding titles to drag round the muddy ooze of a sty. Then, of course, there is Great Garbo.