Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/149

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MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.

A Prospecte of ye Zoological Societve its Gardens. Feedynge ye Beasts.

[Monday, October 27, 1849.]

To the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park, at 3 p. m., in Time to ſee the Otter fed with live Fifties, which he do chaſe round his Baſin in the Water, and dive after mighty clever. Then to the Wild Beaſts, waiting for their Food in a terrible Rage, as I have ſeen others than Wild Beaſts at the Delay of Dinner. Some of the Dens with Trees lengthwiſe in them for the Beaſts to climb in; and there Lions, old and young, Lioneſses, He and She Tigers, a Jaguar, an Ounce, a Cheetah, a Spotted and Black Leopard: and on the other ſide Hyenas, and Pumas, and more Leopards, and Bears. Their Yelling and Howling for Hunger a moll: horrid Muſique, and terrible to fee the Tigers, rear on their hind Legs, and daſh at their Bars, and grin and glare at the Children outſide. The Ramping and Roaring doubled when the Keeper come with the Meat, and Lack! how they did fly at it with Teeth and Claws, and howl and ſnort over it, and munch and crunch the Bones! But one Hyena droll, the Keeper paſſing him by, and he, thinking he was to go without his Meal, throwing himſelf on his Back, and moaning, and almoſt blubbering in Deſpair. Pretty, to ſee the Bears in their Encloſure climb up their Port for Buns; which the Viſiters did hold to them on the End of a long Stick, and thoſe below fighting for the Morſels that fell; and their Clumſinefs, and awkward Standing on