A record of the progress of the Zoological society of London during the ... online

of the Society/ '



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-Zoological Society of London. 149

The income of 1826 (including that of 1825) was
J61,829, the expenditure £679, the number of Fellows
on December 31st was 342.



1827.

President: The Maequess of Lansdowne, D.C.L., F.E.S.

Treasurer : Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.E.S.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigoes, Esq., F.E.S.



On March 7th, 1827, Henry, third Marquess of Lans-
downe, was elected President of the Society in the place
of Sir Stamford Eaffles, deceased, and held this office
until his resignation in 1831.

In April 1827 ladies were declared eligible, as Fellows
of the Society. It was also determined to appoint a
number of Corresponding Members, and fifteen persons
were recommended for election. On April 24th, the
Sumatran Collection of the late Sir Stamford Eaffles was
presented to the Society by Lady Eaffles, who was there-,
upon made an Honorary Member. About this time a
circular was issued to foreign correspondents, asking for
assistance, and printed directions for preserving animals
and packing specimens of all kinds were sent to collectors
abroad. Towards the end of the year it was resolved to
take steps to procure a Charter, and Mr. Bicheno and
Mr. Septimus Burton were instructed to prepare the
draft of it. A gardener was engaged for the Eegent's
Park Garden.

The income of 1827 amounted to £4,079, and the
expenditure to £4,375. The number of Fellows in 1827
was 602.



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150 A Short History of the



1828.

President : The Maequess of Lansdowne, D.C.L.,F.K.S.

Treasurer : Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.K.£>.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigoes, Esq., F.K.S.



On Feb. 25th, 1828, the first sheet of ' Occurrences 9
was received at the Offices, No. 33 Bruton Street, from
the Gardens. It contained the following particulars : —

Menagerie. — Eeoeived 11 wild ducks, from the lake,* caught for the
purpose of pinioning and then to be returned.
Eeceived 6 silver-haired rabbits from Mr. Blake.
Otter died in consequence of a diseased tail.
Emu laid her fourth egg on 24th.
All animals and birds well.
Wor1c8. — Pit for bear, house for llamas in progress.

Boundary wall for supporting the bank next the bears' pit
begun.
Servants. — All on duty.
No. of Visitors. — Four.
Particular Visitor. — Lord Auckland.

The sheet of 'Occurrences,' as the daily journal is
called, has been continued in nearly the same fashion ever
since, and is sent down to the Office every day. The set
of ' Occurrences * at the Society's Office is complete from
the commencement.

On the 27th April, Mr. Edward Amond Johnson was
appointed Superintendent of the Gardens, and the Gardens
and Museum w r ere opened to the public on payment.
The Council had resolved that " strangers be admittod to
the Gardens by the written order of a Fellow on payment
of Is. each ; the holder of a ticket to be allowed to intro-
duce any number of companions at Is. each."

About this time also the late Mr. John Gould, F.E.S. ,

* This was the large lake in Begent's Park, whieh for some time
was in the occupation of the Society.



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[To face p. 150.



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Zoological Society of London. 151

was appointed Curator and Preserver to the Museum. The
first catalogue of the Mammals exhibited in the Museum
bears date June 24th of this year, though a manuscript
note on the title suggests that it did not actually appear
till July. There were then 450 specimens of Mammals
in it, arranged on the Quinary system — Ferae, Primates,
Pecora, Glires and Cetacea.

In July 1828 plans for the houses in the Gardens were
prepared, and on Aug. 7th plans for buildings on the
north side of the road were submitted to the Council, and
referred by them to the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests. In October 1828 a stable and room were hired
in Park Street, for the reception of animals that needed
more protection than could be afforded them in the
Menagerie ; and in the following month it was ordered
that a list of the animals be kept from January 1st of
the following year.

The income of 1828 amounted to £11,515, and the
expenditure to £10,044. The number of Fellows was
1,226. The admissions to the Gardens were 98,605.



1829.

President: The Maequess of Lansdowne, D.C.L.,F.R.S,

Treasurer : Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.E.S.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigobs, Esq., F.E.S.



The first printed list of members bears date January
1st, 1829, and contains the names of 1,294 ordinary Fellows,
3 Honorary Members and 37 Corresponding Members.

The most important event of this year was the grant
on March 27th of a Charter to the Society by His Majesty
King George IV. The Marquess of Lansdowne, Joseph
Sabine, and Nicholas Aylward Vigors were named in it as



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152 A Short History of the

the first President, Treasurer, and Secretary, respectively,
of the incorporated Society, to remain in office till
April 29th, on which date, or as near thereto as con-
veniently might be, the Annual General Meeting was to
be held in this and in every successive year. Mr. Eees
was appointed Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Alexander
Miller Superintendent.

In 1829 negotiations were completed with Mr. Pullmer
and the Corporation of Kingston for the occupation of a
farm of about thirty-three acres, in a " beautiful situation
just under the wall of Eichmond Park." The farm was
established (1) to relieve the menagerie in Eegent's Park
by removing from it such animals as required a quiet
place to breed in, to receive duplicates, and animals that
needed a more extended range ; (2) to rear domesticated
quadrupeds and birds, with a view to effecting improve-
ment in quality, and to domesticate others not yet intro-
duced to our poultry or farm yards ; and (3) to conduct
experiments in all matters relating to breeding and points
of animal physiology connected therewith. Arrangements
were made with the Board of Woods and Forests for the
secure occupation of the Garden within the Park, and for
that of other land on the north side of the Inner Circle,
with a frontage of 1,200 feet, which contained about five
acres. The tunnel connecting the two Gardens was built
this year, and a building was erected in the North
Garden, in which some of the animals were kept during
the winter.

The income of 1829 amounted to £13,994, and the
expenditure to £12,414, the number of Fellows was 1,528.
The admissions to the Gardens were 189,913.



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Zoological Society of London. 153



1830.

President : The Makquess of Lansdowne,D.C.L., F.E.S.

Treasurer : Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.E.S.
James Moeeison, Esq.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigoes, Esq., F.E.S.



In 1830 Mr. Decimus Burton was appointed architect
to the Society. The principal works executed were the
laying out of the North Garden, and the erection there of
houses and sheds for Deer, Antelopes, Zebras, Ostriches,
Kangaroos, and Swine. In the South Garden a pit with
a pond was provided for the Polar Bear, and a den and
pond were made for Seals.

At this time His Majesty King William IV. signified
his pleasure to become the Patron of the Society, and
presented to it all the animals belonging to the Eoyal
Menagerie in Windsor Park, which were the following : —

Mammals. — 14 Wapiti, 3 Axis and 1 Sambur deer, 1 American Roe,
3 Gnus, 2 Nylghaies, 2 Llamas, 4 Cashmere goats,
3 Barbary Goats, 1 Cape Bam, 7 Zebus, 2 Mountain
Zebras, 2 BurchelTs Zebras, 2 Hybrids between both
species of Zebra and the Common Ass, 1 Wild Boar,

1 Peccary, and 13 Kangaroos.

Birds. — 1 King Vulture, 2 Sea Eagles, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Great
Eared Owls, 4 Macaws, 2 Cockatoos, 1 Scarlet Lory,

2 Golden Parrakeets, 1 Rosehill Parrakeet, 5 Widow
birds, 11 Emus, 1 Curassow, 42 Peafowls of different
varieties, 4 Crowned Cranes, 1 Scarlet Ibis, 1 Spoonbill,
and 7 Cereopsis Geese.

Owing to this great accession to their stock, the
Council was now enabled to offer some duplicates to the
Society about to be formed in Dublin, and to the Eoyal
Menagerie in Paris. On July 21st a ' Committee of
Science and Correspondence ' was appointed "for the
purpose of suggesting and discussing questions and experi-



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154 A Short History of the

ments in animal physiology, of exchanging communications
with the Corresponding Members of the Society, of
promoting the importation of rare and useful animals, and
of receiving and preparing reports upon matters connected
with Zoology/ ' Meetings were ordered to take place on
the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The first
of those Meetings was held on Nov. 9th, 1830, when the
Chair was taken by Mr. E, W. Hay, and Mr. (afterwards
Sir Eichard) Owen read the first part of a paper on the
Anatomy of the Orang. These meetings subsequently
developed into the General Meetings of the Society for
Scientific Business, and the ' Proceedings of the Com-
mittee of Science and Correspondence ' were converted in
1833 into the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society of
London,' which have been continued, under slightly
different titles, ever since.

The income of 1830 amounted to £15,958, and the
expenditure to £14,615. The number of Fellows was
1,769, the admissions to the Gardens were 224,745, and
to the Museum 14,323.



I83I.

Prmdfm^:THEMABQUESS0FLANSD0WNE,D.C.L.,F.E.S.,

The Eight Hon. Lobd Stanley, M.P., D.C.L.

Treasurer : James Mobeison, Esq.,

Charles Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigobs, Esq., F.E.S.



At the Anniversary Meeting of 1831 the Marquess of
Lansdowne resigned the office of President, and Lord
Stanley (afterwards 13th Earl of Derby) was elected in
his place.

The King presented to the Society the collection of
animals in the Tower, expressing a wish that such as



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Zoological Society of London. 155

were not required for the Kegent's Park Collection should
be sent to the Zoological Society of Dublin. The
armadillos Bred in the Gardens, and " hopes were enter-
" tained of this animal, so valuable as an article of food,
"becoming naturalised in this country." The collection
formed by the late King (George IV.) at Cumberland
Lodge, together with specimens obtained during expedi-
tions to North America (under Sir John Franklin), and
Patagonia (under Captain King), were handed over to the
Museum by the Government ; and Mr. Gould presented
to the Society his collection of birds from the Himalayas.

At the Gardens the chief works carried out were the
Elephant paddock and pond, the carriage sweep, the exit
turnstile from the north side, a house for the under-keepers
and the Clock tower.

The income of 1831 amounted to £17,663, the expendi-
ture to £15,913, the number of Fellows was 2,048. The
admissions to the Gardens were 258,936, and to the
Museum 11,626.



1832.

President : The Eight Hon. Loed Stanley, D.C.L.

Treasurer : Chaeles Detjmmond, Esq.

Secretary : Nicholas A. Vigoes, Esq., F.K.S.,

Edwaed T. Bennett, Esq.



The apartments for the under-keepers in the Gardens
were completed this year ; the only other works of
importance were the fencing in of the North Garden, and
the formation of the ponds in the South Garden. Some
inconvenience was experienced at this time from the
crowded state of the Society's House in Bruton Street,
and the Council were anxious to obtain more space for
their Museum.



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156 A Short History of the

In this year 25 mammals and 26 birds, new to the
collection, were exhibited. The Farm Committee pub-
lished a Beport, from which it appeared that the increase
of stock by breeding was satisfactory. They attributed
the increased outlay to the animals received from the
Eoyal Menagerie at Windsor ; but expressed their opinion
that this additional expenditure had conduced to the
general welfare of the Society. On June 28th a sale by*
auction of the duplicates from the Menagerie and Farm
took place in the Gardens. Fifty lots were offered ; one
lot (a pair of emus), on which was a reserve of £10, was
bought in ; the remaining forty-six fetched £93 18s. 6d.
The highest price made was £18 10s. for a seven-year old
male wapiti, and the lowest 3s. for a pair of bald-head
pigeons.

An alteration of the by-laws took place in this year,
by which the annual contribution of Fellows was raised
from £2 to £3.

The income of 1832 amounted to £15,493, and the
expenditure to £13,006. The number of Fellows was 2,309.
The admissions to the Gardens were 218,585, and to the
Museum 7,134. In the accounts of this year the first
entry of money received for 'Proceedings' (£2) occurs.
At the Anniversary Meeting Mr. Edward T. Bennett was
elected Secretary in place of Mr. Vigors, who had resigned
the office.



1833.

President : The Eight Hon. Lobd Stanley, D.C.L.

Treasurer : Chaeles Dbtjmmond, Esq.

Secretary : Edwabd T. Bennett, Esq., F.L.S.



In February 1833 Gould was appointed Superintendent
of the ornithological department of the Museum. Dr. Grant
delivered before the Society a course of lectures on the



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Zoological Society of London. 157

structure and classification of animals. A Medical
Superintendent was appointed to visit the Gardens at
stated periods, in order to record the diseases of the
animals and the remedies employed, and to report thereon
t© the. Council, so as to collect a body of facts for future
guidance.

The Farm at Kingston was given up in 1833, and the
land placed in the hands of an agent for disposal.

The principal works were the transfer of the aviaries
from the Farm to the North Garden, and the erection of
a Parrot House.

In this year the President sent from his private
collection at Knowsley various animals desirable for that
of the Society. This year was also marked by the loss of
the fine collection of Indian pheasants and other birds,
made by Mr. B. H. Hodgson, British Besident in NepauL
Nearly a hundred were sent down to Calcutta, but most
of them died on the journey or at Calcutta, and not one
reached England alive. Nine species of mammals and
thirteen of birds new to the collection were exhibited
in 1833. Duplicates were sent from the stores in Bruton
Street to several provincial Museums.

On January 8th, 1833, the first General Meeting of
the Society for the transaction of Scientific Business was
held under the new by-laws, whereby these Meetings-
were ordered to replace those of the Committee of Science
and Correspondence, commenced on Nov. 9th, 1830.
The Chair was taken by Mr. Joseph Sabine, Vice-President,
and papers were read by Mr. Bennett, Mr. Yarrell r
Mr. Broderip, and Dr. Grant.

In August 1833, the first part of the first volume of the
Quarto ' Transactions ' was published.

The income of 1833 amounted to £14,843, and the
expenditure to £13,154. The number of Fellows was
2,470. The admissions to the Gardens were 211,343, and
to the Museum 5,333.



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158 A Short History of the



1834.



President: The Eight Hon. Lokd Stanley, D.C.L.

Treasurer : Chakles Dkummond, Esq.

Secretary : Edward T. Bennett, Esq., F.L.S.



In 1834 an additional space of ten acres of ground,
along the south western verge of the South Garden was
acquired from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
at a yearly rent of £6 6s. per acre. This was separated
from Kegent's Park by a strained wire fence, and a hedge
and fence were made on the eastern boundary of the
south part of the Gardens, from a little east of what is
now the South Entrance to the Outer Circle Koad, and
that portion of the South Garden was laid out by the
gardeners. Other works carried out were the sinking of
a well and the erection of an engine-house in the North
Garden, and the setting up of turnstile gates at the
entrance.

Examples of twelve species of Mammals and twenty-
six species of birds were exhibited for the first time. Of
the former the most important was an Indian Ehinoceros,
for which the sum of £1,050 was paid. Three Curassows
were hatched at Stubton Hall, Lincolnshire, from eggs
laid by birds belonging to the Society, and entrusted to
the care of Sir Eobert Heron. These were probably the
first of this bird ever reared in England. Negotiations
were carried on for the disposal of the Farm at Kingston.

The first volume of the ' Proceedings of the Zoological
Society of London/ containing an account of the business
carried on at the General Meetings for Scientific Business
in 1833 was completed and published early this year.

The income of 1834 amounted to £16,833, and the
expenditure to £12,980. The number of Fellows was
2,781. The admissions to the Gardens were 208,583, and



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Zoological Society of London. 159

to the Museum 4,939. In the accounts of this year the
first entry of any rent received for the refreshment rooms
(£45) appears.



I83S

President : The Eight Hon. Loed Stanley, D.C.L.

Treasurer : Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

Secretary : Edwaed T. Bennett, Esq., F.L.S.



In 1835 a house was built for elephants and rhinoceroses
in the North Garden, near the spot where the present
Elephant-house now stands ; and a little westward sheds
were erected to serve as a protection for the larger deer.
These were near the pheasantries which adjoined the
road, opposite the site of the present Zebra House. The
ten acres lately acquired in the South Garden were separ-
ated from the " Mall " (now the " Broad "Walk ")by a wire
fence, and an exit gate was made at the South-eastern
corner, near what is now the South Entrance.

In 1835 His Majesty the King presented to the Society
a fine young Indian Elephant, and the specimen till then
living in the Gardens was sent to the Dublin Zoological
Society. A Chimpanzee (Anthropopithecus niger), as also
ten other species of Mammals and ten of birds, were
exhibited for the first time.

The fourth part of the Society's Quarto ' Transactions,'
completing the first volume and containing the title and
index, was issued in 1835. It contained altogether forty-
three Zoological memoirs, amongst the authors of which
were the well-known names of Yarrell, Ogilby, Bennett,
Gould, Bell, Owen, MacLeay, Broderip, Biippell and Lowe.

The income of 1835 amounted to £16,033, and the
expenditure to £13,330. The number of Fellows was
2,941 ; the admissions to the Gardens were 210,068, and
to the Museum 4,138.



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160 A Short History of the



1836.

President: The Eight Hon. the Eabl of Derby,

D.C.L., F.L.S.

Treasurer : Charles Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary : Edward T. Bennett, Esq., F.L.S.

William Yarrell, Esq., F.L.S.



On May 24th, 1836, four Giraffes (three males and a
female) arrived at the Gardens, in charge of M. Thibaut r
who had obtained them for the Society in Kordofan.
They were the origin of the famous herd which died out
in 1881. Of the seventeen Giraffes of this herd subse-
quently born in the Gardens, one was presented to the
Dublin Society in 1844, five were sold at prices ranging
from £150 to £450, and eleven died in the Menagerie (see
P.Z.S., 1882, p. 257). The first Giraffe brought alive to
England was that presented to His Majesty George IV.
by the Pacha of Egypt (Mohammed Ah).

Early in the year 1836 a new house, No. 28 Leicester
Square, was taken for the Offices and Museum, and the
transfer thither from No. 33 Bruton Street (which was
given up) was effected during the months of April, May,
and June. The new house had been formerly occupied
by John Hunter, and contained his famous museum till
its removal to the Eoyal College of Surgeons in 1799.
The Alhambra now stands on the site. Mr. G. E. Water-
house was engaged as Curator of the Museum. The
number of specimens of vertebrated animals exhibited in
it at this time was 6,720.

The chief works at the Gardens in 1836 were the
erection of the Giraffe house and the removal of the
adjoining pheasantry. In June a descriptive article on
the Gardens appeared in the "Quarterly Beview." In
recording the donations in their Beport the Council called



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Zoological Society of London. 161

the " special attention of the Members to a donation by
H.E.H. the Princess Victoria of two Musk Deer." The
interest thus manifested in the Society by the Princess,
who as Queen became Patroness, ceased only at the close
of her long and glorious reign.

Some beginning was made in the formation of a
Library this year, and the number of volumes it contained
is put down at 427.

The income of 1836 amounted to £19,123, and expen-
diture to £19,637. The number of Fellows was 3,057 ;
the admissions to the Gardens were 263,392, and to the
Museum 3,660. Mr. E. T. Bennett, the Secretary, died
in August, 1836, and the well-known naturalist, William
Yanell, was appointed to fill the vacant post.



1837.

President: The Eabl of Derby.

Treasurer .-^Charles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary : William Yarrell, Esq., F.L.S.



In 1837 Her Majesty Queen Victoria signified her
pleasure to become Patroness of the Society. At the
Gardens improvements were made in the Giraffe-house,
and a cage was put up at its western end for an Orang
(a female purchased for £100), the first exhibited since
1830. Examples of seven other species of mammals and
seven of birds were also exhibited for the first time in
this year.

Besides other valuable donations, the Museum received
two perfect skins of the Apteryx from the New Zealand
Association, and from the President, the Earl of Derby,
the body of an example of the same bird, which formed
the subject of Owen's famous paper.

In this year Mr. Gould resigned his position as ornitho-

N



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162 A Short History of the

logical curator, on leaving England for Australia in order
to make researches for his work on the birds of that
country, and was elected a Corresponding Member.

The income of 1837 amounted to £13,960, and the
expenditure to £14,350. The number of Fellows was
3,106. The admissions to the Gardens were 173,778, and
to the Museum, 4,431.



1838.

President : The Eakl of Deeby.

Treasurer : Chables Dbtjmmond, Esq.

Secretary : The Eev. John Bablow, F.B.S.



In 1838 the Eev. John Barlow, F.E.S., became
Secretary in the place of William Yarrell, who resigned.
In this year a residence for the Superintendent was pro-
vided at the Gardens, the rooms hitherto occupied by the
keepers being fitted up for him, while accommodation for
them was found in the Giraffe-house. The Curator of
the Museum became Assistant Zoological Secretary, and
the Assistant Curator was dispensed with.

At the Gardens a clerk of the works was appointed, to
act also as architect, and the cultivation of the Gardens
and the laying out of the walks was contracted for.

In 1838 ten mammals and eighteen birds were exhibited
for the first time, together with nine reptiles and two
batrachians. A new catalogue of the Museum, prepared
by Mr. Waterhouse, was published ; in this the Quinarian
arrangement formerly adopted was dropped.

The income of 1838 amounted to £14,094, and the
expenditure to £12,588. The number of Fellows was
3,081. The admissions to the Gardens in 1838 were
179,197.



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Zoological Society of London. 163



1839.

President : The Eakl of Deeby, K.G.

Treasurer : Chables Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary : The Eev. John Barlow, F.E.S.

William Ogilby, Esq., F.L.S.



In July 1839 the Eev. John Barlow resigned the
Secretaryship, and was succeeded by Mr. William Ogilby,
who retained that position till 1847. In the same year,
in response to a petition, the Crown granted the Society
a reduction of the rent paid for the Gardens, by which an
annual saving of £243 lis. &d. was effected. A Monkey-
house was erected on the spot where the Eagles' Aviary
now stands, though the outside-cages for the animals in
fine weather were not finished till 1840.

On June 19th a young male Giraffe was born, the first
recorded instance of this species breeding in captivity,
but it died on the ninth day from a sudden attack of in-
flammation. Tuberculosis attacked the monkeys seriously
in their new house, and a number of the commoner
species and two Gibbons died from this disease.

Twenty-two mammals (of which seven were of new
species) and twenty-one birds were exhibited for the
first time in 1839. Owing to the limited space for the
Museum, and the general inconvenience of the premises,
in Leicester Square, referred to by the Council in their
Beport, little was added to the Library.

The income of 1839 amounted to £13,431, and the