Considered with relation to science, there are few animals strangers to Europe which are not useful as a study. The history of the greatest part of them is yet very incomplete. That of the lion was not well known until after the lionness of the menagerie had whelps; it is also since two elephants have died ad the menagerie of the museum that an exact knowledge of the anatomy of this great quadruped has been acquired.
Travellers cannot be too strongly recommended to neglect nothing in order to send animals to us when they have it in their power to find them living.
The small quadrupeds, chiefly those that burrow and hide themselves in the ground are the least known. The bat tribe are still less so, and merit not less the attention and care of travellers.
Animals can easily be procured by applying to the natives of the country who know where they are to be found and frequently meet them. They can take them in snares and bring them in alive. It will not be more difficult for them to take in their early youth the quadrupeds whose lurking-places they know, and birds whose nets they have seen.
The younger the animals are, the easier it is to accustom them to live in cages. They will require, at first, particular care; it will be well to feed them for some weeks on shore before shipment, and too much pain cannot be taken to tame them. An animal that is not frightened at the sight of those who take care of him, is always in better health and resists more easily the fatigues of a sea-voyage than one who remains wild, and there is scarce any animal that does not yield to kind treatment.
Nourishment in excess, when they are shut up, and without the power of taking exercise, would be injurious. The surest way of keeping them is merely to give them what is necessary.
After a suitable nourishment, cleanliness is most necessary to them. Often, on shipboard, some one would be found who will take care of them, either for amusement or a slight remuneration. It is essential to take precautions to prevent the animals being teased and irritated by passengers.
As there are always difficulties in the transportation of living animals, there is an easier way whose results are more extended; that is the spoils of dead animals.
Quadrupeds can be procured either by sending hunters in the interior of the country, or by applying to the natives of the country.
They will content themselves with bringing the skin, the bony head and feet of the great animals that they have killed in places too remote to be preserved or transported entire.