Consul II. added the riding of a tricycle and bicycle to his predecessor’s accomplishments, but sad experience warned his masters not to teach him the use of a key. Teaching was usually required at first, but sometimes he seemed to think for himself. Another chimpanzee at these Gardens, fastened in a double cage away from the visitors, learned of his own accord that nuts thrown to him (against the rules), if out of reach of his hand, could be secured by pushing his blanket over them and snatching it quickly back; and with very little demonstration he learned, too, that a short stick could do similar service. He even had the sense to use the short stick to reach a larger one, if the nut were placed at a distance requiring its use, but he could not appreciate the advantages of a crooked handle. [Illustration: CHIMPANZEE, CONSUL I., MANCHESTER. (By kind permission of Messrs. J. Jennison and Co., Manchester.)] The elephant house is a plain but roomy building, containing at present a male and two female Indian elephants, which are used in the Gardens, and a very fine male rhinoceros and female hippopotamus, both added in 1876 and yet in the finest condition. They are very savage, in marked contrast to the preceding rhinoceros, which was allowed to roam the grounds, and had to be driven for exhibition from his mud bath in the lake on the warm summer days. Contrary to the usual custom in Zoological Gardens, this building is never heated, and the hippopotamus tank is filled direct from the lake, often from under the ice, without any ill effects supervening. Sally, the old Indian, with thirty-two years’ service, lived longer than any other of the elephants; but Maharajah was by far the most famous. Purchased in 1872 at the dispersal of Wombwell’s collection in Edinburgh, he first lifted the top off the railway-van taken to convey him. His keeper then walked him the whole way to Manchester, and is still ever willing to spin a yarn on their adventures on the road, such as the lifting away of the toll-gate, or the troubles in getting stabling, no little difficulty with so large a beast. He lived and performed ten years in the Gardens, and, dragging a heavy load, was ever the leading figure in the May-Day processions, for which Manchester was then so famous. The camel house is a similar building; in it are housed the camels and large ruminants. Adjoining are the zebra and antelope pens, and a series of large pens for the deer and bisons that can stand our climate. A large specimen of the _Bison Americanus_, purchased prior to 1869 from the Marquis of Breadalbane, lived over thirty-three years in the Gardens. The Gardens also possess a penguin house with a large glass tank for the display of all kinds of diving birds, also a sea-lion house with an outdoor pool and a large tank, 64 by 20 feet, in which the animals display their agility and intelligence under training. Young sea-lions have been bred in the collection.