Naturalist.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 404, 4 February 1904, Page 2

Naturalist.

SUICIDE WITH CATS. . I 95fft?N eccentric old lady named Linois fejM@ has just committed suicide with SffK . eight cats .in the Bue Julien, ' Paris. She left a letter' stating that she had been turned out of one house, after another owing to complaints being made about the habits of her 'dear companions'the cats, until at last they were all quite weary of the world and had dedided to die together. The woman and her cats were found in the room suffocated with charcoal fumes.

PUTS OF CELEBBiTED PEOPLE. The love of animals is so strongly pronounced in England that it ia only natural to find that many of the beat known public characters derive much relaxation from the sooiety of their pets. The late Queen Victoria was devoted to animals. Her fondness for dogs was notorious. The Queen had more than fifty 'dogs, and every day they were, taken out of the Eojal kennels to be exercised. Three dogs were her special personal attendants 1 —«Boy,' a black and tan collie j »Spot,' a fox terrier; and 'Marco,' a small brown Pomeranian. When the Queen was a little girl she owned a dog named ' Pero.' Walking one day at Malvern with the Duchess of Kent and her governess, Princess Victoria ran on with her dog, and entered into conversation with a girl, The Princess, thinking the dog was tired, asked the girl to carry it, which she did for a while. The Duchess, on coming up, thanked the little girl for the trouble she had taken, and presented her with half a crown. The coin was framed, and hung up in the parlour of her father's house when they heard who had been the donors.

Queen Alexandra is particularly fond of animals. Her doge, including some magnificent Borzois, have frequently been exhibited. Her Majesty has lately been showing Sebright, Japanese and game Bantams, which take many prizes, King Edward is a great lover of dogs. His bulldog 'Peter' was a well-known favorite, much lamented by bis Majesty when the dog came to an untimely end. A-few years ago Mr Alfred de Bothschild had a young lion cub as a pet. It was growing well, and was as decile and affectionate as such a beast could be, when, from,some inexplicable cause, it gradually drooped and died. The distinguished novelist, Mr Eider Haggard, had a peculiar pet in his study in the shape of a large brown and white rat. Lady Duff Gordon made a pet of a large gieen snake, which would come at a call, drink milk from the hand, coil itself round hsr waist, and go to sleep. The Hon Mrs Arthur Cadogan is another snake lover, some recent portraits of that lady showing her fondling a big serpent. Charles Dickens had great delight in animal pets, A little white cat, called Wilhamina, showed much devotion to her master. She selected a corner of his study in which to deposit her kittens, bringing them from the kitchen in,her mouth, one by one, after the manner of her kind. They were removed, but again brought back so persistently that they were allowed to remain. The kittens made themselves at home, playing round the writing table, swarming up the curtains, and often being stroked by the novelist. The celebrated actress, Madame Sarah Bernhardt, has many pets. Amongst others she has had numerous snakes, an opossum and a number of dogs, including Collies, St Bernards and Fox Terriers. Madame Bernhardt ia not fond of Bulldogs, nor of very small dogs. Madame Patti has also a number of pets, especially of parrots ana other birds.

A SCOUBGE OF WOLVES. The Roumanian Government, until two years ago, employed three professional hunters in each village to destroy wolves and other undesirable animals. Since then, for reasons of economy, the men have not been appointed, and the country is now overrun with wild marauders. On 10th December a gendarme and bis horse were devoured by wolves close by the railway Btation at Braila, while not far from the town at Tulcea five people have been killed and eaten. A peasant looking for strayed cattle was attacked by wolves, and only escaped by climbing a tree. He shot three of the wolves, which were immediately devoured by their fellows. Passing travellers three hours later drove his assailants away. Over 30 persons are known to have been killed by wolves this winter. The peasantry are entreating the Government to reinstate the hunters. So terribly severe has been the cold weather in Hungary that every day has brought a long list of persons frozen to death, The official records up to the middle of December give a total of no fewer than 63 persons who have lost their lives in this manner. ; To add to the horror of the situation, tbe hard frost has deprived the wild animals of the forests of their ordinary resources, and huge packs of ravenous wolves have raided the villages and devoured 16 persons, mostly women aad children.

/ PIGEON SHOOTING STOBT. A party of amateurs some time ago arranged for a shoot, and ordered thirty pigeons from a dealer in a neighbouring town. The shooting was of a really wonderful character, but the actual performances ' need not be described in detail. The net results will be gathered from the following note, which was subsequently received from the dealer. It ran: 'Gentlemae, I beg sincerely to thank you for your order, and to intimate that I shall be only too happy to supply you with any number of birds on future occasions of the sort. The whole of the thirty birds, for which you paid me at the rate of eightpence per head, returned home in safety, and, moreover, brought with them-a stray pigeon; My price to your party henceforth will be three-halfpesce per bird.'