The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-11

zoo. The Madagascar animal is q le- muf. Its traits are widely separated rom those of the ape, notably In that he does not possess rne mischievous tendencies of the other fellow.
 The most curious of all beasts in stampdom--an animal that would make a fortune for a sideshow man--is the platypus of Tasmania. It Is on a stamp designed primarily for revenue use, but used in the regular postal service It was first printed in 1882. It is not an uncdmmon variety and is readily obtainable. The animal 1t pictures, however. is most uncon- mon thing to peoples on this side of the grand old globe. The platypus is known to scientists as the ornithornyn- chus paradoxus, the last portion of this Latinized title clearly indicating that even the wise men of~these times regard the animal as a. seven-days' wonder. The platypus has a beavers fur and tail, web feet, a bucks bill and within the bill an excellent set of teeth. It nourisnes It's young on milk, which, instea1 of being fur nished through the usual contrivances with which nature provides mammals, is expressed through A series of holes in the skin. Altogether a most re- markable 'critter."
 The bear in our show halls from North Borneo and Is known as Q hru- ang. The animal is in it's natural color--dark brown-within a violet frame. 1t Is much easier to obtain than the American pear which was shown on provisional issue of the St. Louis postofflce in Is45-47. The St Louis stamp bear is little expensive. costing today almost as much as a really. truly live bruin.
 New South Wales contributes q kan garoo to the zoo. It ls on a shilling stamp and was issued in 1SSe. A hip- popotamus is donated by the African republic Liberia, which alsos by the way, adds an elephant 70 the list. The Liberiah hippo is a robust and lively looking fellow as he makes his way across the front of the stamp.
 The leopard from French Congo is honored with a place on every one of a series of stamps issued in 1900. Each stamp of the series is in two colors and these colors vary, all of which goes to prove that if the leop- ard cannot change his spots the lith- ographer can do 1t for nim. He is 0 fierce and hungry looking guy--is this leopard--and 1t is certainly Ibelievable that he devoured the possessor of that magnificent pair of tusKs lying below him.
 North Borneo, which is drawn on so extensively for popuiating the menag- erie, finishes fine stag and also q crocodile. The lattsr's cousin, the alligator comes from Jamaica whose specimen is, however, rather small og one ;ooI t is on 2 very o0nmoF stamp
 The antelope is part of the arms of Rhodesia emblazoned on stamp of that portion of British South Africa. Another species of antelope known as the sasin Is on the stamps of Nowan- uggur. Those patrons Of the big show who are not acquainted with this geo. graphical designation may be informed that Nowanuggur is a sown in Hindoo- stan having an active trade with the outside world and mas been issuing stamps of It's own since the year 1877.
 The aurochs Of Roumania are Eu- ropean buffalo. The creature which many mistake for the llama on sthe stamps of Peru is really the guanAco They are from the same land and the Hama is a domesticated guanaco from which in time 1t has cope to differ in some characteristics ongaccount of it's close association with man and it's en- forced denial of the freedom enjoyed by it's wild brother.
 Other creatures in the stamp collec- tors zoo are the beaver from Canada the caribou from New Foundland, gnu from the Orange River Colony, otter from Iohang China, seal from new zebu from Madagascar and springbox from the Orange River Col ony.
 If our space GestrIctions were not such as they are we might add to our menagerie a reptile division, an aviary containing some thirty birds of diff. ferent, a corner for insects and a tank for fish all of which are now or have been in the recent past engaged in Arrying letters packages etc. through the wonderful mail systems of the world. As it is their consideration must be left for another time.
 Certainly enough has been shown to prove that not the least interesting collection of animals is that embraced In the menagerie of the stamp devo- tee. If it is not the greatest show on earth" 1t is indisputably one of the most remarkable usetuI entertaining and instructive.
 Dwight Burroughs.