Correspondence with Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding queries about mammals such as an offer of a Lioness for mating, the measurements of Camels, Toto the Lesser Kudu, Mink breeders, Monkeys from East Africa, Quaggas, the gestation period of a Giraffe, Horned Hares, and domesticating the Paca and Capybara
Manchester
March 14 1845
Sir
There is one Lion with a good and showy mane. he has a defective tail, that is to say the last three inches of it is turned up abruptly; this beast I should not like to give more than three hundred guineas for - the second Lion they say is six years old, I think he is not so old; he has less mane than the one at the Gardens, that belongs to White, he is a large beast, but has what is called a broken nose, that is to say he bears the appearance that a fighting man does - he is a larger animal than the first mentioned - the outside value of this one I should say was two hundred pounds - the first mentioned one is the same sort and looks exactly like the one at the Surrey Gardens the elephant is fine and they expect a long price. I should say he was well worth six hundred pounds - the giraffe is a female, and by far the best animal in the collection, appears in perfect health and condition, she is not as I was informed crooked on the legs, but a beast well worthy of being added to our collection, let her fetch what price she will this animals is well worth three hundred and fifty guineas to the Society - the Leopard is fine, but he lost all four canines and has got a severe cold in one eye - five pounds would be plenty of money for him - The Lion cubs are male and female about 15 inches high, they were cubbed in the collection, the point of interest about them is, that they are living on good terms in the same den with the maned Lion - one of them is what is called [Mooney?] headed they are not worth £20 the two.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient Servant
Louis Prater
If the Society feel inclined to purchase the Elephant, there is a man here I think would buy our large one. The Elephant is full 8ft high
Letters from James Murie to Philip Lutley Sclater regarding the death of a giraffe from mouth disease, his monograph on Otaria, and his memoirs on the walrus, kagu, hyaena, pilot whale, otaria and manatee
Letter from Geoffrey Marr Vevers to Dr M Mazels enclosing tickets for admission to London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo following his assistance in the chemical examination of the blood of a Giraffe
Letter from Julian Sorell Huxley to Henry G Maurice regarding a Rhino and a Giraffe at the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London
Letters from Hartmann W Just to Philip Lutley Sclater, and a draft reply, regarding the transportation of a giraffe for the Queen
Correspondence between Dr J Richard Hudson and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding a young giraffe named Twiga which was sent to the Zoological Society of London from the Veterinary Research Laboratory in Kabete, Kenya
Correspondence between Raymond Hook and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding offers of animals including a Rock Hyrax, a pair of Rhinos, Reticulated Giraffes and Grevy's Zebras
Letters from Frederick Graham of the Colonial Office to Philip Lutley Sclater regarding the desire of Chief Bathoen to present the Queen with a giraffe
Letters from James Cossar Ewart to Philip Lutley Sclater regarding repeating Lord Morton's giraffe experiment and an examination of a piece of skin sent by Harry Johnston