Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/221

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spite of the rapid progress which the science of zoology has made during the last twenty years, the study of living mammals in captivity remains a comparatively neglected branch of natural history, being almost entirely left to the learned members of zoological societies. The private individuals who have systematically taken up this most interesting work may almost be enumerated on the fingers of one hand—this neglect of so fascinating a pursuit being all the more remarkable considering the activity displayed by naturalists in other departments of the animal world. Thus numerous ornithologists, not only throughout the United Kingdom, but also on the Continent, add annually to our knowledge of birds by means of observations on aviary specimens; reptiles and fish are now frequently exhibited, thriving amongst appropriate surroundings; and the life-history of many insects is known from egg to imago, thanks to the labours of countless entomologists. It is indeed to be regretted that the highly organized class of mammalia does not as yet obtain its due share of attention; perhaps this is owing to the comparatively small number of dealers who sell mammals as well as birds, and also to the general impression that the former are more expensive to buy and more difficult to keep than the latter. It should, however, be remembered that a considerable variety of wild creatures can always be purchased either in London or in Liverpool; and although those who recollect with pleasure the herds of Eland, Sing-Sing Waterbuck, and White-tailed Gnu in the Paris Jardin d'Acclimatation, or the herd of Bubaline Hartebeests in the Jardin des Plantes, will recognize that the exhibition and maintenance of such fine game animals demands a great outlay of time, experience, and money. Nevertheless there are very many lesser mammals (nowadays included amongst the attractions of every zoological garden) which are not ex-