ose which my young
neighbour BELLINGHAM GREY speaks of? He tells me that Oxford is infested
with the varied species of the Ornithorhyncus--_the Beast with a
Bill_--which usually lurk in dens to which they endeavour, by many
allurements, to entice their victims; and that, so cunning are they,
that they will even steal within the College walls and attack a Student
in his own private room, and cannot be got away before they have made
him bleed freely. He says that there is no way of capturing these
beasts, and that they can only be kept off by Degrees; but, that when
once you have found means to settle them, their Bill immediately drops
off; and that they are not seen again until their bill has been
curiously renewed. I wonder that the manager of the Zoological Gardens
don't get hold of specimens of this very curious beast, the Oxford
Ornithorhyncus; more especially as they seem to be so common. But I
suppose that their difficulty of capture at present stands in the way.
But, who knows, but what we shall see them next season among the 'lions'
of the Gardens, and eclipsing in interest even the vivarium and the
hippopotamus?

[Illustration: NOBODY MUST INDULGE IN SPORTS WHICH MAY CAUSE HURT OR
INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS.]

[Illustration: The OXFORD ORNITHORYNCUS]

"But to return to the Statute. Though I think I smell a badger, yet the
word 'ferrets' seems to point at rats. But if, in their humanity, the
authorities discourage rat-hunting--which, of course, must be an
'inconvenience' to the rat, even if it cause him no 'danger or
injury'--why do they shut their eyes to the legions of terriers, and
other rat-killing dogs, that are openly possessed by the members of the
University? I am at a loss to know for what species of wild beasts the
'snares and nets' are intended, unless the young men poach for rabbits
and hares. But as for fox-hunting, I shall know now how far I may
believe young BELLINGHAM GREY when he says that he, and more than a
score of 'pinks' may be seen in a morning, setting off from the
Canterbury Gate of Christ Church! And as for the loo, and whist, and
'Van John' that he speaks of, not to mention ecarte, and the money that
changes hands in one evening, why I am sadly afraid that the young
gentleman has been imposing upon my credulity.

[Illustration: NOBODY MUST CARRY A CROSS-BOW, AND A HAWK FOR FOWLING.]

"The Statute goes on to forbid the boys--I beg pardon, the 'men!'--from
the use of hawks for fowling,