Upper Norwood Literary and Scientific Society (19 november 1892)
This article is a report of the Upper Norwood Literary and Scientific Society published in The Norwood News on 19 november 1892.
Report of a lecture about Wild Animals in Captivity and Domestic Animals held on 16 november 1892 attended by Arthur Conan Doyle where he spoke.
Report
"WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS."
Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a numerous attendance at the meeting of the above society last Wednesday evening to hear Mr. Gambier Bolton, F.Z.S., F.R.G.S., &c. lecture on "Wild Animals in Captivity and Domestic Animals." The subject of animal life is an interesting one to most persons, but when one hears it dealt with by a gentleman such as Mr. Bolton, whose name has been associated with all the scientific study of animals for many years, the interest is considerably intensified and, moreover, he has the happy knack of throwing into his subject a little well-placed humour. The lecture was illustrated by upwards of 100 beautiful photographs (shown on a screen), taken, with the exception of about half-a-dozen, by Mr. Bolton himself at the gardens in Regent's Park, Manchester, Bristol, Paris, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Cologne, and Windsor Castle; and in some instances these were larger than life, so that those who where present had the opportunity of studying animals under the most favourable circumstances. The president (Dr. Conan Doyle) occupied the chair.
In a few prefatory remarks, Mr. BOLTON stated the chief objects of his lecture. The first was to try to teach those present something new about beasts and birds; and he said that as each subject appeared on the screen he would endeavour to bring before them such of their peculiarities, either in habit or construction, that would prove more thoroughly the wonderful way in which an all-wise Deity had provided for each member of this vast family, according to its special needs. The second object was to make known, far and wide, the terrible truth, at present scarcely realised, that most of the grander of the beasts and birds were being rapidly swept off the face of the earth by the great wave of civilization that was passing over the globe. Such noble beasts as the lion, elephant, tiger, bison, and antelope, and most of the larger and more magnificent among the birds, would in a comparatively few years cease to exist. Unless an animal now proved its right to exist, it was rapidly shot down and exterminated; and he believed there were many in the audience that night who would live to see most of the animals he had named extinct. The world, he believed, would then be robbed of one of its greatest attractions — the wild beasts and birds. Without further preface, he proceeded to show the photographs in their natural scientific sequence. Commencing with animals of the carnivore order, he showed a splendid specimen of an African lion captured in Upper Nubia, and then a handsome, well-proportioned lioness. The lecturer remarked that next to the noble appearance of the lion was its terrible roar. He could imagine nothing more awful than to hear three or four lions or lionesses engaged in a vocal demonstration. Illustrations of Asiatic lions followed, among them being one of a cub brought to England by the Duke of Clarence and Avondale in 1890. Pictures of skulls of lions which once lived in Great Britain were exhibited; and then tigers of various kinds and in divers positions were delineated, and then a couple of cubs also brought home by the Duke. For cold-blooded cruelty and destructiveness these beasts, Mr. Bolton observed, were worse than the lion; but, unlike other members of the cat tribe, they were extremely fond of water. Leopards and panthers were illustrated, and then came an interesting photograph of a jaguar, owned by Lady Florence Dixie. He described the last-named animal as the most cunning of all creatures. They had, he said, a horrible way of breaking the necks of their victims, by putting one paw at the back of the neck, and the other under the chin, and forcing the head back until the neck was broken. An illustration followed of the lion house at the "Zoo," which is generally admitted to be the finest in the world. A variety of bears come in for attention, and then in their scientific order were given the seal, walrus and sea-lion, which are distinct from land animals by their limbs being developed into flippers. A picture of the largest of all animals — the whale — came next, and this, observed Mr. Bolton, some folk placed among fish, but it was just as much an animal as a lion. It had warm blood like ourselves, it breathed by means of lungs, and the young were born alive. Passing on to hoofed animals, he showed a photograph of an elephant possessed by the Prince of Wales. Remarking upon the sagacity of elephants, he said that to see them at work was a sight never to be forgotten. They were used largely in India for moving stones and bridge work, and a powerful animal could carry a laid of half-a-ton or more. African elephants were being destroyed at the rate of 60,000 to 65,000 a year for the sake of their ivory, and at this rate they would soon become extinct. A picture of the late lamented Jumbo was shown. This, he said, they received at the "Zoo" in exchange for a rhinoceros, and it was sold to Barnum for £2,000. To give some idea of the quantity of ivory required in various industries, it was pointed out that the tusks of three elephants were necessary to furnish a set of billiard balls. Illustrations of the rhinoceros, zebra, quagga, and hippopotammus were exhibited, and in this connection the lecturer entered a protest against the senseless wholesale slaughter of some of the noblest among animals, which were shot merely for the sake of a little sport. As an example of this, he gave some illustrations of walls which were built of the bones and skulls of the American bison. These walls were 8ft. high, 7ft. deep, and 800ft. long, and they were to be seen at numerous stations or the Canadian Pacific Railway. Besides this, he was aware that 300 truck loads had been forwarded to the sugar refiners of America. Some fine specimens of the antelope, gazelle, giraffe, deer, kangaroo, porcupine, and monkey were given, and here the lecturer took the opportunity of throwing in a little sarcastic remark to the effect that he was inclined to believe that there was just as much difference between a man and an ape as there was between a pig and —— well, a town-made sausage. Birds and dogs — some of the latter being prize animals — were well represented in subsequent pictures, and then the audience had a few interesting views of the splendid dog kennels at Windsor Castle, which Mr. Bolton had been permitted to photograph. When he was last there, there were 65 dogs in the kennels, and it may be news to many dog fanciers to learn that the Queen will not allow the tails of her terriers to be cut, as she considers this unnecessary cruelty. Some amusing pictures showing how a successful animal photograph taker is made, brought, amid great applause, a very admirable lecture to a close.
The PRESIDENT proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, and in doing so be remarked that the animal he knew best was the Polar bear. When he was up in the Arctic Seas, he had opportunities of studying this interesting creature, and on one oocasion the interesting creature studied him. He was out on an iceberg one day, when he saw one coming towards him. Of course, it was all sport; but at the time he did not know which one of them was having the sport. However, he was pleased to say that the head of his friend was now snugly reposing in his study. (Laughter.) The vote of thanks was heartily agreed to, and the meeting then terminated.
