THE QUEEN’S LOVE OF ANIMALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 9

THE QUEEN’S LOVE OF ANIMALS.

[By Miss S. A. Tooley.]

Dash, a black and tan spaniel, was the ' Queen’s constant companion when, as the j Princess Victoria, she took her morning 1 walk in Kensington Garden-, and liis ; joyous bark was the first welcome she j received on her return to Buckingham Palace from her coronation. Looty, a ' lovely silken, long-haired dog brought by • a British officer from China, was a later | favourite. When the Summer Palace at Pekin was burning, this little dog was I discovered curled up among soft shawls I and rugs in one of the wardrobes, and I the officer who rescued him and brought , him to England as a present to the Queen gave him the significant name of Looty. A picture of him by Mr F. W. Reyl was exhibited iu the Royal Academy many years ago. Her Majesty has a special fondness for collies, and among these faithful animals Noble and Sharp were for many years chief favourites, and ■ always travelled with her to and from Balmoral. “ Noble," she writes in her dairy, “is the most biddable dog I ever saw. He will hold a piece of cake m his mouth without eating ir, until he may. If he thinks we are not pleased with him i he puts out his paws and begs in such an affectionate way." A beautiful collie named Darnley 11. has been for many years Her Majesty’s chief pet. He has a special cottage of his own, apart from the kennels of the other dogs. In their beautiful homes in the grounds of Windsor Castle are to be seen akyes, collies, pug 3, and dacha in great variety, but the Queen’s particular pride are her Italian “ Spitzes," a breed of beautiful buffcoloured dogs, which she was the first to introduce into this country. Marco, with his lovely white coat and almost human intelligence, is another chief favourite with his Royal mistress. It would be a mistake to suppose that these pets are unduly pampered, for the Queen believes that plain-living induces high-thinking in dogs as well as in human beiuys. Her Majesty has been one of the most accomplished horsewomen of her time, and her ponies have an almost equal share of .attention with her dogs There is Jessie, which was her favourite riding mare for 25 years, and carried her through many a Highland expedition ; then there are her two Shetland ponies, and Flora and Alma, presented by King Victor Emmanuel, and a grey Arab, a present from the Thakore of Morvi. The Royal mews at Windsor cover an extent of four acres, and have accommodation for 100 horses. The harness-horses are nearly all or them gray, and those for the broughams are dark chetsnut. But •specially proud is the Queen of her twelve cream-coloured horses, which 1 have been privileged to see in the mews at Buckingham Palace, looking very beautiful indeed with their long, silky tails nearly touching the ground. Their ancestors took the girl Queen nearly 60 years ago, to her coronation, and the stock is always kept up for Tlei Majesty’s use on State occasions.

An amusing little favourite of the Queen was Ricco, which she used to drive in a pony-carriage some years ago. He was a Sardinian pony, presented by the King of that country, and was only 44 inches high. That charming naturalist, Frank Buckland, has given an amusino account of his attempts to sketch this fussy, nervous little fellow, who was highly indignant at having his measurements taken. The Queen was greatly diverted by the account of her pet’s behaviour, for she is fond of studying the characters of the animals about her, and likes them to have their pictures taken. Bushey Park is used as a kind of home of rest for the pet horses who are no longer fit for active service. There Picco was sent to end his days, and, as a useful lesson in humility, he had Alderney, a costermonger’s rescued victim, given him for a companion. One day, when the Queen was driving in the Isle of Wight, she Baw a costermonger savagely beating a beautiful white pony, and, stopping her carriage, she offered to buy the ill-used animal, in order to save him from his life of misery. She gave him the name * f Aldernev, and promoted him to a life of ease in Bushey Park, where he doubtless entertained his aristocratic friend Picco with the doings of costerland. To-day the Queen’s chief favourite is Jacquot, the strong, handsome donkey, with the white nose and knotted tail, which draws her chair in the gardens of PVogmore, or through the shady glades at Osforne, and has accompanied Her Majesty to the Highlands and to Florence and the Riviera. Woman at Home.