NOVEL AFRICAN PRESENT FOR THE KING.

Evening Star, Issue 14626, 24 July 1911, Page 5

NOVEL AFRICAN PRESENT FOR THE KING.

I Two hundred li\ r e specimens of the Africm fauna—-the Coronation gift of an anonymous <louor to the King—havo reached ! London on board the Connie Cafitle. On | the fore deck of the liner, amid cases of 1 bauanas and other tropical fruit, were boxes of divers shapes and eizes, from which one could catch a glimpse here of some graceful antelope, there a ferocious puma shaking with teeth and daws the iron bars ; cage birds of the richest plumage appearing equally in a state of wild agitation, wlnlo yonder stood four blackcoated penguins, who seemed to bo enjoying the .spectacle with a comical air of mock gravity. Two baboons got loose on the way from Delagoa Bay to Cape Town, disappeared for a while in the rigging, and became a regular terror to the Kaffir pasbeiigens on board. It was with considerable difficulty that they worn coaxed into re-entering their cage*. A male leopard early succeeded in effecting his escape. The collection comprises 200 specimens, the finest, obtainable in Rhodesia, tho Transvaal, Natal, and Cape Colony. Among tho most remarkable animals it, ha.s been possible to secure are zebnio a.nd various kinds of bucks, two mountain zebras, a baby crocodile 2{it in length, a magnificent" crested eagle raptured in Natal, and an ant-bear from Pictcria, one of the most dilnculf beasts io obtain alive. There are, in addition, 2o tortoises;, 4 jacakLs, 2 leopards, and any number of birds. The majority ol iho animals wore transported on tiolleyis from the deck to their temporary ipa arte re in th* Zoological Gardens, liecent's Park. Tiro King is expected to inspect the collect ion ,-it an early date in the < ourso of tho present mouth. Qui/./y Hilly: ~ Holloa.. Joe : What's: tha wheejjn' the barrow on Sunday for?" Joo: "Oh, the missis she's away, and the da-wg's dekl, and a follow look;- such a, fool walkm In- hisself."