The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

Arrivals at the Zoological Gardens.

A pretty little African monkey, known as the talapoin
(Cercopithecus talapoin), from the banks of the Congo,
where it is considered a rare species, and is designated the
" mangrove monkey" by Europeans. It is seldom brought
alive to Europe. Also a kinkajou (Cercoleptes caudivol-
vulus), a peregrine falcon, and some small African doves.
The kinkajou is a sub-ursine quadruped of South Ame-
rica, about the size of a large domestic cat, with a short
coat of a fulvous hue, and a long tail, which is consider-
ably prehensile. It has a short visage, and a long, soft
tongue (as usual in the Ursidae), being a great devourer of
honey ; but it is likewise carnivorous to some extent, and
has erroneously been stated to be the only carnivorous
animal (i. e., member of the zoological order Carnivora)
that has a prehensile tail. In the same house for small
quadrupeds will be seen a fine example of the binturong
(Arctictis binturong), a very remarkable nocturnal quad-
ruped which inhabitS the Indo-Chinese countries and
Malayan peninsula (not Sumatra, as has been asserted), in
which the tail is very long and highly prehensile. This
creature is as large as a fox, with somewhat fox-like head,
fully tufted ears, and vary copious long white whiskers or
moustachial bristles. It is clad with long and shaggy
course black fur, like that of the common Indian bear
(Ursus labiatus), and its claws are somewhat retractile.
Though also a great devourer of honey, it is known to the
Burmese as the myouk kya, or " monkey tiger," having
the reputation (whether or not deservedly) of attacking
monkeys when at roost and devouring them ; but both the
binturong and the kinkajou, as observed in captivity,
would seem to be mainly frugivorous. The binturong is
not only the solo carnivore, but the only non-marsupial
animal of the Old World belonging to the class of mamma-
lia, the tail of which is prehensile in a high degree.
In the New World this remarkable adaptation of the tail
to become an important prehensile organ occurs in gene-
ral of very different orders. In the spider-monkeys
(Ateles) it attains the maximum of efficiency in this mode
of application, and is scarcely of less utility to the numer-
ous other " sapajous" of Buffon (the species of Mycetes,
Lagothrix, and Cebus) ; but there is no gradation in this
respect to any other form of monkey. We again find the
prehensile tail in certain American genera of porcupine
and kindred rodents, and in those singular little adentate
animals, the sloth-anteaters (Diclodurus) ; among the mar-
supials, in the true opossums (Didephis), and again in a
remarkable genus of phalangers (Cuscus), inhabiting Cele-
bes and the Moluccas ; and there is considerable prehen-
sile power in the tail in the non-marsupial adentate genus
of pangolins or scaled anteaters (Manisa. In the reptile
class the chameleons are thus distinguished ; and also the
arboreal snakes ; and in the fish class there is the remark-
able genus llippocampus, which thus holds on to a stem of
sea-weed, as represented in the vignette accompanying Mr.
Yarrell's account of the European species in his "History
of British Fishes," a figure which at once conveys the
proper notion of the ordinary.habits of the creature.
Among the arrivals must not be omitted the presentation
of several species of the small British wading-birds, as
golden plover, turnstone; and several knots and dunlins,
which are placed along with the kingfishers, little grebes,
&c., in the aviary for small aquatic birds in the fish-house.
In that aviary there have long been one turnstone, one
knot, and one common sandpiper (Tringoides hypoleucus);
and we remarked with interest how thoroughly the turn-
stone assumed its beautiful summer plumage or colouring
in the proper season. In the same " happy family" may
be seen a tiny curlew (Numenius aa:uutus) from Austra-
lia, a most remarkable bird to be exhibited alive in Europe,
though scarcely more so than the wattled lapwing (Lobi-
vanollus lobatus) of that distant land, and ono or two others
in the collection. Of European waders, we observe the
common British curlew, the black-tailed godwit, the pee-
wit, tone-plover, oyster-catcher, and ruff ; and any other
species appertaining to the snipe and plover families would
be acceptable.—Land and Water.

STARVATION IN THE WEALTHIEST CITY IN THE
WORLD.—On last Sunday there died, at 37, Bar-
nett-strect, Bothnal-green, an old woman, aged 74, whose
bed was formed by two chairs, and whose only food each
week consisted of a little tea and sugar, and half a quartern
loaf of broad, allowed her by the guardians of the parish,
and as much more as is. 6d. a week, granted by the same
authorities, could purchase. The daughters of the poor
old woman were represented to be the wives of mechanics;
but so far from assisting her ono of them, with whom she
had lived for a little time, had compelled her to pay is. a
week for her lodgings. The only friend she found was
Eliza Greenhalgh, who shared her room with her, and
gave hor the use of the two chairs, she herself and two
children sleeping on a bed on the floor, in the corner of
the room, and so near to starvation themselves that one of
the little ones had written in chalk upon the table, " Now
it is all up, for one of us is dead." The coroner's jury
found that the old woman's death was accelerated by want
of tho common necessaries of life; but one of the jurymen
took upon himself to say that no blame attached to the
parish. With the notions which poor-law guardians en-
tertain concerning humanity, the juror may be right.—
London Review.

NEWSPAPER PROPERTY. —The copyright and
plant of the Bucks Herald, a Conservative paper, estab-
lished 32 years, were sold yesterday, by Messrs. South
gate, for the sum of £457 10s. Th© purchaser was Mr.
Gurney, of Aylesbury.

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HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, Dec. 17.
Princess Louise and Prince Leopold attended
Divine Service at Whippingham Church yesterday•
The Rev. George Prothero officiated.
The Queen and Princess Louise walked and
drove iu the grounds this morning. Prince and
Princess Christian walked out, and Prince Leopold
and Princess Beatrice went out also.
1)r. Jenner left to-day for London.

The Ballot.

~_~~_

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SIN.

Sin, —ln the Devonshire town of Barnstaple, or
Barum, as it is sometimes called for brevity—as
Sarum is for Salisbury—the ballot system was used
prior to the month of September, 1690, with re-
spect to municipal elections. In one of the bye
laws of this borough, of that date, it was provided
that, when the mayor for the year ensuing cannot
be agreed upon by common consent, " the more part
of the common council shall advisedly and discreetly
nominate four such men of the common council as
be of ability convenient and meet for the office
of mayoraltie, then for the next year 101'
lowing, and the name of two of them
incontinently shall be written, separated, and
fixed severally on two potts for the same purpose
therefore made, then and there as hath been used
and also accustomed to be sett in a certain place af''
pointed, and every of the said mayor, aldermen, and
council to have one ball in their hands also provided
for the same, and holding both their hands close,
shall put one hand into one pott and the other hand
into the other pott, at one instant time : and letting
his ball fall secretly into what patt he list shall take
his hands out of the same potts, showing them forth
openly in such ways as it may not be knows, for
whome he giveth his voyce, nor in what putt
he putteth his ball, which being so done and
perused particularly, from the lowest to the
highest, the same potts forthwith to be seen, that
it may be known in what potts—most balls be--
and then the names of two other menne of the Com'
mon Council shall be written severally, and set upon
the potts, and to be perused by the Mayor, Alder'
men, and Common Council, with balls, in like
manner, and forme as it was done before removing
the two first names—and afterwards those two men's
names having most voices and balls to be again t"
third time, sett separately, on the said two potts,
in such manner as it was before—and then at the
last, he whose name is fixed on that pott wherein
most balls shall be found—shall be preferred to tlle
office of the Mayoral tie of the said borough and parish
for the year next following as hath been accustomed'
The same plan was directed by the bye-laws to be
observed in the election of aldermen, eonll°:
councell-men, and recorder, whose appointmen`
were vested in the corporation. In 1830 the Mg°r
would have been balloted for, if a contest had oc-
curred, as would be the case, it seems, even n":,,
The cups are wooden, and furnished with hollow
brass pans, in which are holes through which the
balls drop, and one of them bears the following ill-
ft
scription—viz. : " Potts and Balls, m.DLITI.7,
would be interesting to know whether a similar
_
custom has prevailed in other boroughs in the olden
time.—l am, Sir, yours obediently,
London, Dec. 17, 1866. CHR. COO'

NEW CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENTS

AT TE(E ALHAMBRA.

The theatrical, musical, and miscellaneous pet'
formances at this Theatre of Varieties have been
entirely changed for Christmas. A new grand spec"
tacular and allegorical ballet, representing the Won"
ders of Industry, and employing the services of one
hundred coryphe'es and fifty juvenile figura tiles)
has been placed upon the stage, backed 11 one
of those marvellously constructed and brilliantly
painted scenes, with novel changes, that have won
for their painter, Mr. William Callcott, a European
reputation. This spectacular ballet is called " The
Bulrush Fens and the Golden Lake; or, the Triumph
of Industry." The dances and movements have been
arranged by Mr. Milano, acknowledged to be the
leading ballet-master of London, who has been spe-
cially engaged this Christmas to produce this ballet
and another romantic ballet of action, called "The,
Mountain Gorge ; or, the Brigand's Stronghold'',
which is part of the new programme, and is full of
the most striking evolutions and dances, executed by
one hundred female dancers and pantomimists. The
scenery for this second ballet has also been painted
by Mr. William Callcott. No care nor expense 11'0
been spared to make the costumes in both the%
ballets worthy of the scenery. To give proper elf°
to the dances, the management have engaged Mdle.
Anais Tourneur, principal danseuse of the Theatre
f
Imperial du Chatelet, Paris, and Mdle. Schmidt''
the English and Continental Theatres. A large
and effective company of the best pantomiinis'
including MM. D'Auban and Warde, from the
Porte St. Martin Theatre, Paris, have also been
engaged for a pantomimic ballet, appropriate
the season, called " Where's the Police ?" in which
ic
some extraordinary illusions and novel dances are
introduced, and in which Master Tommy Dot and
Master Perks, the cleverest children on the stage '—
their peculiar way,' will take a prominent 014'
To give proper effect to the theatrical and inter'
mediate.music, the band, conducted by M. Riviera'
has been permanently increased to sixty instr
mentalists, who are provided with all the best 34,
latest musical novelties. The vocal and comic u,
partments have been strengthened, the principal b
ject of the management being to exclude obtrusr
vulgarity from the latter ; and the gymnastic en'
tertak.ments, which always have formed, and al-
ways will form, a striking feature at this establi.sPg
ment, will be chiefly supported by the FlYie%
Farinis, father and son. The auditorium bas been
re-decorated, re- carpeted, and enlarged ; and its
1)1
comfort, size, and brilliancy are now unequalled •if
',es
any similar establishment in the world. A series t
fashionable morning performances will be given 3