Samuel Howitt painted many of his subjects from the country and sporting life. His animal sketches of which he did many are very lifelike. He visited a number of Menageries based in London, such as the Tower of London and the Exeter Change. Edward Cross established his collection of animals at the Exeter Change in 1773. The animals included Lions, Tigers, Monkeys, Hippopotamus, Sloth, Elephant and many others.