STRANGE COMPANIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1224, 14 August 1885, Page 3

STRANGE COMPANIONS.

The life of Frank Buckland, by Mr Bompas, contains stories innumerable, some of which are full of humor, while others make one’s fledi creep. There was nothing in the way of animal life which m ide Backhand shudder, or inspired him with any feeling of repulsion. So much could not always be said for the people who were unfortunate enough to be thrown iu his way. His rooms at Oxford were a menagerie, in which snakes, adders, marmots, and squirrels abounded. Among his other favourites were a tame eagle, a monkey, and a bear. On one occasion his marmots escaped and took possession of the Chapter House, unfortunately, too, on the morning when the Chapter had to meet. The eagle not infrequently got into the chapel and insisted upon being present during divine service. It was apparently by no means the most disorderly member of ihe congregation. One morning Bucklandgave a grand breakfast to his “ chums,” but unfortunately that very morning the marmots, who had been hibernating in the ceLar, thawed out and insisted upon being of the party. They ran about the breakfast table aud in and out among the dishes in a way that thotoughly horrified the guests. Once when he was travelling through Germany in a night coach, full of sleeping travel** lers, some tree fogs which he had collected and enclosed in a bottle broke out into shrill song, and awoke the indignant Germans, Buckland had discovered that shaking the bottle kept the frogs quiet, aud so he had to stay awake the rest of the night in order to keep his pets in good order. On ano» ther occasion he carried with him a bottle of red s ugs. During the night everyone in the coach, slept. But when Buckland awoke he saw a detachment of the red slugs crawling leisurely over the shining scalp of a bald-headed gentleman fast asleep on the opposite bench. Clearly the cork had come out of bis bottle, and the slugs had profited by their opportu» nity. The naturalist had not the courage to face the denouement. He waited patiently till the next stage was reached and then beat a retreat, leaving the slugs aud the bald-headed gentleman to settle the affair between them.