Wild Animals in Captivity

Abstract

THE late Mr. Bartlett had such an extensive and almost unrivalled practical acquaintanceship with animals in menageries, that the publication of the notes kept by him during a long life might naturally be expected to be an event of more than usual interest. But, although there is much to attract general attention, and not a little worthy the notice of the practical zoologist in the present volume, we cannot help rising from its perusal with a certain feeling of disappointment. It appears, indeed, that a very large proportion of the notes that have any real value have been published elsewhere. And although this is a matter of little or no moment when the subject is good and attractive, it is essential that such republished notes should be well arranged and edited. In our own opinion efficient editorship is sadly wanting in this instance. The various notes and papers are far from being well arranged; and there is a considerable amount of repetition, as well as much irrelevant “padding,” which might advantageously have been omitted. As a glaring instance of the former fault, the reader may be referred to pp. 164 and 165, where he will find precisely the same anecdote, with identical dates, repeated under two distinct headings; the only difference being that one account is more detailed than the other.

Wild Animals in Captivity.

A. D. Bartlett E. Bartlett. Pp. viii + 373, illustrated. (London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1898.)