Asia. Other high prices paid are £100 for the first Chimpanzee, £800 for a young Hippopotamus, and £600 for a Giraffe."
"In all zoological collections there arises, from time to time, the need for some rough-and-ready surgery. A good example of work of this kind took place yesterday morning (Feb. 24th) in the Elephant-house at the Zoological Gardens, when the front horn of the female Hairy-eared Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros lasiotis) was removed. This operation was a repetition of one performed some ten years ago, when, as now, the front horn had become bent backward, and not only interfered with the growth of the posterior horn, but actually penetrated the skin, as would probably have been the case in a short time had the present horn not been removed. The operation was carried out by Mr. Bartlett, the Superintendent, and Mr. Thomson, the head keeper, who had for assistance the staff of the Elephant-house and a number of other keepers. A rope was passed under the body of the animal, which was thus securely girthed, and so drawn up to the stout wooden railings. When she was on her side, her feet were secured with straps, and so she was prevented from struggling. This, of course, was the longest part of the business, for she resisted violently and noisily, and, as may be imagined, a Rhinoceros is not an easy animal to handle. But when once the beast was in position, the removal of the horn was not a long operation, and was certainly unattended with pain. On being cast loose, the Rhinoceros, though at first enraged, soon became calm, and the chief signs of temper were the quick, fierce expirations from the nostrils, which scattered the loose straw on the bottom of the den. The malformation which rendered this operation necessary is of interest, since it throws light on the way in which some forms have been described as distinct species, owing to abnormalities in the horns, due to injury, disease, or excessive growth. It will, be remembered that a few years ago the head of an African Rhinoceros showing a third horn was exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society; and last year Captain Harrison shot a Black Rhinoceros with five horns, of which the third and fourth were outgrowths from the second, while the fifth seems to have been distinct."—Standard.
In 'L'Intermediaire des Biologistes' for January (No. 5) is a reply to a query which is of interest to British zoologists. It is written by Prof. W.A. Herdman, of Liverpool, and refers to the Common Spiny Lobster:—"I think I can state that the northern limit of distribution of Palinurus vulgaris is that part of the Irish Sea which lies between Liverpool and the Isle of Man. It is commoner to the south. I have not
