The stock of lions in the Gardens this year was two males, five females, and eleven cubs. A large number of presents were received, among which may be mentioned two Bengal tigers from the Nizam of Hyderabad, a black bear cub, a large python from West Africa, six giant tortoises from the Hon. Walter Rothschild, and a polar bear. A female white-tailed gnu, two Bactrian camels, and two ostriches were purchased. The sea-lion and the two fine cheetahs died, together with an ostrich, a recently acquired chimpanzee, and a male Bactrian camel. The Royal Zoological Society of Ireland has now had an existence of seventy years, and is only four years younger than the London Zoological Society, founded in 1826. CHAPTER XXXVII CARL HAGENBECK, THE KING OF ANIMAL IMPORTERS. A VISIT TO HIS HANDELS MENAGERIE IN HAMBURG AND TO HIS WILD-ANIMAL PARK IN STELLINGEN Many people will no doubt wonder how Zoological Gardens obtain their collections of animals and birds. It was my good fortune to be conducted round the Handels Menagerie as well as the Park at Stellingen by Herr Carl Hagenbeck, the genial king of animal importers. I was ushered into his office, and seated upon a chair made of antelopes’ horns and covered with lizard skins. In front of me on a bureau were some life-like bronzes of animals, modelled from living specimens formerly in Hagenbeck’s collection. Some bronze elephants with real ivory tusks were remarkably well executed. Above the writing-table was a portrait of Hagenbeck’s father framed in ivory tusks, and close by a curious malformation of roe-deer’s horns. The room was littered with horns and skulls and curiosities from every part of the world. [Illustration: CARL HAGENBECK.] ‘I began to collect animals when I was four years old,’ said Carl Hagenbeck, with a smile. ‘My father began business with some seals, and in 1852 he bought the first polar bear ever seen in Europe. He exhibited it in Hamburg, charging fourpence admission. With the proceeds he bought other animals and birds from sailors who brought them home on their ships.’ From this humble beginning Carl Hagenbeck, by his wonderful skill and knowledge of the art of keeping live animals in health, has now, after having been head of the business for thirty-six years, the largest stock of live animals in the world. The value of his animals is greater than the value of the animals in any one Zoological Garden in Europe. ‘I suppose you employ a good number of people to collect for you?’ I asked.