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

expenditure to £13,637. The number of Fellows was
3,038. The admissions to the Gardens in 1839 were
158,432, and to the Museum 3,716.



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164 A Short History of the



1840.

President : The Eabl of Deeby, E.G.

Treasurer : Chaeles Dbummond, Esq.

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



At the Gardens, in 1840, the external cages were added
to the Monkey House. Examples of fourteen species of
mammals (of which one was new to science) and of nine
species of birds were exhibited for the first time. From
Mr. Hugh Cuming, the well-known conchologist, several
specimens were received, among which were a fine Argus
Pheasant, believed to be the first living example of this
species seen in Europe, a Fire-backed Pheasant, and a
Gibbon. Capt. Belcher, E.N., presented a Babirussa, the
first seen alive in England.

There were numerous donations to the Museum in
1840, and the Library received many additions by dona-
tions and exchanges.

The income of 1840 amounted to £12,732, and the
expenditure to £11,838. The number of Fellows was
2,994. The admissions to the Gardens were 141,009, and
to the Museum 3,901.



1841,

President : The Eabl of Debby, E.G.

Treasurer : Cbables Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary : Wiliam Ogilby, Esq., F.L.S.



♦ In 1841, a considerable inconvenience having been
caused by the pulling down of the houses adjoining the
Museum, the Council determined to give up the lease of



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Zoological Society of London. 165

No. 28 Leicester Square at Midsummer. The offices were
then transferred to 57 Pall Mall, and the Museum was
removed temporarily to a warehouse in Dufour's Place,
Broad Street, Golden Square. There was also a re-
arrangement of the ground held from the Crown for the
Gardens. The Society surrendered the strip on the north
bank of the Canal, and a portion at the east end of the
North Garden was exchanged for a corresponding portion
at the west end. Permission was granted by the Crown
to extend the landscape-gardening over and to erect
buildings on the ten acres of pasturage ground adjoining
the South Garden. The Council also determined to
erect a building for the Museum in the Gardens, and a
design for it was provisionally adopted. The donations
to the Menagerie were larger than in preceding years.
Mr. J. Brooke, C.M.Z.S. (afterwards Bajah Brooke) sent
to the Society five Orangs from Borneo, but unfortunately
they all died on the passage. On May 27th, a young male
Giraffe was born — the first ever reared in captivity.

The second volume of ' Transactions/ issued in five
parts, was completed this year. It contained altogether
twenty-six memoirs, amongst the authors of which were
Bell, Yarrell, F. Cuvier, Waterhouse, Westwood, Cantor
and Sykes.

The income of 1841 amounted to £11,611, and the
expenditure to £10,931. The number of Fellows was
2,819. The admissions to the Gardens were 132,616.



1842.

President: The Eabl of Deeby, KG.

Treasurer: Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

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



In 1842 no works of importance were carried out at
the Gardens, but plans were prepared for the new



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.166 A Short History of the

Carnivora Terrace. The Queen presented a young
Leopard to the Society, and there were very many other
donations. From the President, the Earl of Derby, was
received among many other animals a female hybrid
between the Mountain Zebra and the Kiang. Examples
of twelve species of mammals and of fourteen species of
birds were exhibited for the first time. The Museum and
the Library received numerous contributions ; but owing
to the inconvenient situation of the apartments tempo-
rarily occupied by the Society, the scientific meetings and
the publications were somewhat interfered with.

The income of 1842 amounted to £10,087, and the
expenditure to £9,721. The number of Fellows was
2,630. The admissions to the Gardens were 107,459.
The Museum was closed to the public this year.



1843.

President: The Eabl of Derby, KG.

Treasurer : Charles Drummond, Esq.

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



The new Carnivora Terrace, extending from the Bear
Pit to the steps, was completed, and the animals transferred
to the dens in September, 1843. The effect of more air
and increased exercise became visible almost immediately.
There was a large number of donations in 1843, the
President heading the list. Eighteen mammals, five birds,
and four reptiles were exhibited for the first time. Jenny,
the orang, died, having lived at the Gardens for four years,
about twice as long " as any individual of the species was
ever known to live in Europe before " at that period.
Part of the Zoological Collection was removed to the new
building in the North Gardens, which was opened to the
public without extra charge.



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Zoological Society of London. 167

A new house, No. 11, Hanover Square, was taken
for the offices in 1843, and afforded "every accommo-
dation required by the Society/ * Cases were placed
in the Council Eoom for some of the more valuable
objects of the preserved collection, and in the Secretary's
room for the Library. One result of the removal to
more convenient premises was a revival of interest in
the Scientific Meetings. On some evenings the rooms
were barely sufficient to afford accommodation to the
visitors. This was especially the case during the reading
of Prof. Owen's papers on Dinomis, and of Dr. Falconer's
discourse on Colossochelys atlas, the gigantic Tortoise of
the subhimalayan strata.

The income of 1843 amounted to £9,137, and the
expenditure to £12,858. The number of Fellows was
2,410. The admissions to the Gardens were 98,280.



1844.

President: The Eael of Deeby, KG.

Treasurer : Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

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



In 1844 the Polar Bears' den with the enclosure and
bath was the only work of importance undertaken at the
Gardens. The Council reported a great improvement in
the health of the Carnivora since they had been removed
to the open dens in the Terrace. There was a large list of
donations. Examples of twenty-two species of mammals
and of twenty-four birds (including several Parrots and
Lories) were exhibited for the first time. A pair of White-
headed Sea-eagles nested in the aviaries. The Council
established premiums for various descriptions of poultry,
in order to carry out one of the objects in the foundation
of the Society — the improvements of breeds of domestic



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168 A Short History of the

animals ; and there was some extension of the promenades
for the members and their friends. The removal of the
Museum to the Gardens was completed ; and there were
numerous donations to it of preserved specimens, and of
books to the Library.

The income of 1844 amounted to £8,658, and the
expenditure to £10,999. The number of Fellows was
2,217. The admissions to the Gardens were 101,527.



1845.

President : The Eabl of Debby, KG.

Treasurer : Chables Dbummond, Esq.

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



In 1845 the Clock-tower was reconstructed and the
drainage of the Gardens was relaid. An Echidna
(Echidna hystrix) f the first specimen exhibited alive in
Europe, was added to the collection. The list of animals
exhibited for the first time was very small, including only
one mammal (a Falkland Island wolf) and two birds.

Mr. Louis Fraser, the Curator, resigned his post in
the Museum in 1845, and the care of the collection
devolved on two subordinate officers, with occasional
assistance.

The income of 1845 amounted to £8,831, and the
expenditure to £9,290. The number of Fellows was
2,067. The admissions to the Gardens were 104,908,
including 5,293 admissions to the Promenades.



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Zoological Society of London. 169



1846.

President : The Eabl of Deeby, K.G.

Treasurer : Chables Deummond, Esq.

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



In 1846 little work of importance was carried on at
the Gardens. The list of species exhibited for the first
time included five mammals, eleven birds, and one reptile.
A young Condor was hatched, from an egg laid in the
aviary, but the chick only lived three weeks.

In October, 1846, the largest of the Giraffes died,
having been upwards of eleven years in confinement.

The chief work at the Museum was the rearrange-
ment of unmounted specimens to render them available
for study.

The income of 1846 amounted to £8,304, and the
expenditure to £8,611. The number of Fellows was
1,939. The admissions to the Gardens were 94,049, to
the promenades 5,996, making together 100,045.



1847.

President : The Eael of Deeby, K.G.

Treasurer : Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

Secretary : D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



In January, 1847 Mr. Ogilby resigned the Secretary-
ship, and it was determined by the Council to appoint a
paid officer, who should devote his whole time to the
Society's! affairs. Mr. David William Mitchell, B.A., was
elected to the post. On the death of the Assistant



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170 A Short History of the

Secretary no successor was appointed, and his duties were
taken over by the Secretary and the Accountant.

In 1847 the privileges of the Fellows were increased
by the issue of six tickets to each for the admission of
two friends, except on Promenade-days. The public
were admitted on Mondays and Tuesdays without an
order, on payment of one shilling, and at Easter and
Whitsuntide the Gardens were opened on the same terms
from Monday to Friday inclusive.

The Pheasantry in the South Garden was recon-
structed in 1847, with a view to the better accommoda-
tion of gallinaceous birds. H.M. the Queen presented a
Tapir and a Jaguar, and the Emperor of Eussia a pair of
European Bisons. The mode of their capture and their
treatment were described in a paper communicated to the
Society by M. Dolmatoff, the Master of the Imperial
Forests in the Government of Grodno. To that gentle-
man and to Sir Eoderick Impey Murchison, through
whose influence the Emperor became interested in the
matter, the Council awarded the Silver Medal of the
Society, to commemorate the introduction of this animal
into England. This was the first occasion of its pre-
sentation.

Fifteen species of mammals, forty-five of birds, and
three of reptiles were exhibited for the first time in 1847.

The income of 1847 amounted to £7,765 only (the
lowest point reached since 1828), and the expenditure
to £9,710. The number of Fellows was 1,844. The
admissions to the Gardens were 88,582, and to the
Promenades 4,964, making together 93,546.



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Zoological Society of London. 171



1848.

President: The Earl of Derby, K.G.

Treasurer : Charles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



In 1848 the principal works were the enclosure of a
piece of ground at the west of the Giraffe-house for the
European Bisons, and the erection of a Store-house in
the North Garden. In the South Garden the Pheasantry
was completed, and close by an enclosure was made for
the wading-birds. A new entrance gate was erected at
the extremity of the South Garden communicating with
the Broad Walk,

Early in April, 1848, it was decided to admit the public
to the Gardens on Mondays, and children at any time, on
payment of sixpence each. The list of species exhibited
for the first time this year included thirteen mammals,
thirty-three birds, and nine reptiles. The most important
additions were a Tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus inustus), a
Maleo, some Australian Brush-turkeys, and the Silky
Bower-bird. The chief losses by death were the old male
Giraffe and the male European Bison.

In 1848 a new series of the Society's ' Proceedings '
with coloured plates, many of them drawn by Joseph Wolf,
was commenced, and continued until 1860, but an edition
with the letterpress only was also issued, and sold at the
price of 6s. per volume.

The Income of 1848 amounted to dB8,165, and the
expenditure to £9,822. The number of Fellows was
1,735. The admissions to the Gardens were 143,630,
which included 2,936 to the Promenades.



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172 A Short History of the



1849.

President: The Eael of Deeby, KG.

Treasurer: Chaeles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary : D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



In answer to a Memorial addressed to the Commis-
sioners of Woods and Forests in 1849, the Society obtained
a reduction of the Ground-rent of the Gardens to £337
per annum. The principal works executed this year were
the conversion of the old Carnivora-house in the North
Gardens into a Eeptile-house ; the erection of a west
wing to the Giraffe-house, and the building of the New
(now called the Western) Aviary, in the South Gardens.
Among the donors were the Queen, who sent to the
Gardens a Lioness, a Leopard, a pair of Ostriches, and a
pair of Gazelles, presented to Her Majesty by the Emperor
of Morocco, and His Highness Ibrahim Pasha, Viceroy of
Egypt, who contributed a female Giraffe, two Dromedaries,
two Leucoryx Antelopes, two Addax Antelopes, two
Ostriches, and two Gazelles. In December news was
received by the Council that Abbas Pasha (who had
succeeded to the Viceroyalty on the death of Ibrahim
Pasha) had sent to the Hon. C. A. Murray, Consul-General
at Cairo, a young Hippopotamus, which had been brought
down from the White Nile expressly for the acceptance of
the Society. The Council expressed their gratitude by
sending the Viceroy a small stud of greyhounds and
deerhounds under the care of an experienced trainer.

The list of species new to the collection in 1849
included sixteen mammals, twenty-eight birds, and
twenty-two reptiles.

The sixth part of the third volume of the Society's
quarto * Transactions/ containing eighteen zoological
memoirs, and completing the volume, was issued this



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Zoological Society of London. 173

year. Amongst its contents will be found the first descrip-
tion and figure of the fragment of the birds-femur from
New Zealand, upon which the genus Dinornis was subse-
quently established, besides three other important memoirs
by Professor Owen on the same subject.

The donations to the Museum were few, and the
additions of mounted specimens were limited to rare
specimens which had died in the Menagerie.

The income of 1849 amounted to dE8,771, and the
expenditure to £9,580. The number of Fellows -tfras
1,665, and the admissions to the Gardens were 168,895.



1850.

President: The Earl of Derby, K.G.

Treasurer: Charles Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



The Hippopotamus-house, at the eastern end of the
Giraffe-house, was completed in 1850, and sheds for
Antelopes and small Deer were erected on the south side
of the Museum. A large Eagles' Aviary on the lawn,
opposite the side of the Fish-house, was commenced.
The transport to England of the Hippopotamus presented
by Abbas Pasha, was successfully carried out. The
shipment was effected under the personal superintendence
of the Hon. C. A. Murray, and the animal arrived at the
Gardens on May 25th of this year. In their Beport the
Council gratefully acknowledged Mr. Murray's help, the
liberality of the directors of the P. and 0. Steam Navigation
Company, and the faithful service of Hamet Saafi Canaana,
the native attendant in charge of the animal. In addition
to the Hippopotamus, the donation of. Abbas Pasha com-
prised a Lioness, a Cheetah, an Ibex, and a Wild-swine.
Another valuable gift was that of Mr. Eonald Gunn and



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174 A Short History of tJie

Dr. Grant, consisting of a pair of the Native Wolf of
Tasmania (Thylacinus q/nocephalus), the first brought
alive to this country.

In July, 1850, a special Committee of the Council
recommended that, subject to the approval of a General
Meeting, the specimens in the Museum should be offered
to the Government for a fair and sufficient equivalent, and
this policy was adopted.

The income of 1850 amounted to £14,957, and the
expenditure to £13,186. The number of Fellows was
1,652, and the admissions to the Gardens were 360,402.



I85I.

President : The Earl of Derby, K.G.

H.E.H. The Prince Albert, K.G.
Treasurer : Charles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



On June 30, 1851, the Earl of Derby, the President of
the Society, died at Knowsley. He had been connected
with the Society from its foundation, and ever since his
election as a Fellow, in 1826, had taken an active part in
its management until the state of his health compelled
him to reside at Knowsley during the greater part of the
year. H.E.H. Prince Albert, on the invitation of the
Council, consented to accept the vacant office.

The chief works at the Gardens in 1851 were the
erection of a strong enclosure and large tank at the
Hippopotamus-house, with platforms around them for
spectators; the Antelope-house at the west end of the
Giraffe-house ; the completion of the Eagles' Aviary ; the
house built for Mr. Gould's collection of Humming Birds,
which formed a great attraction (subsequently converted



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Zoological Society of London. 175

into a Parrot-house), and the commencement of the
Aquatic Vivarium, now called the ' Fish-house/

By bequest from the late President the Society acquired
in 1851 the herd of Elands from Knowsley (two males and
three females), which was the origin of the Society's stock
of this important animal. Examples of sixteen species of
mammals, fifty-nine of birds, and eleven of reptiles were
exhibited for the first time in 1851. At the sale of the
Knowsley menagerie, 160 specimens, representing 62
species, were purchased by the Society at a cost of nearly
£1,000.

The income of 1851 amounted to £26,452, and the
expenditure to £22,380. The number of Fellows was
1,641. The admissions to the Gardens were 667,243.



1852.

President : H.E.H. The Peince Albert, K.G.

Treasurer: Charles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



In 1852 the drainage of the Gardens and of the adjoin-
ing portion of the Begent's Park, begun in 1851, was
completed by the Commissioners of Works, with bene-
ficial effect on the health of the animals. The principal
works carried out were the Aquatic Vivarium, the com-
pletion and fitting up of the Python-house and the
Chimpanzee-house, and the extension of the Three Island
Pond enclosure.

Mr. Alexander Miller, the Superintendent, who had
held office since 1829, was superannuated in 1852, and
Mr. John Thompson was appointed in his stead.

Twenty-one mammals, eighteen birds, and eleven
reptiles were exhibited for the first time. The Council in
their Beport called special attention to the acquisition of



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176 A Short History of the

a Eed Eiver Hog (Potamochoerus penicillatus), at that
time so rare that " they believed no Museum in Europe
contained an example." *

In view of the development of the Natural History
Galleries at the British Museum, the Council determined
to display only generic types in the Society's Museum, to
send the duplicates to national and provincial museums,
and to dispose of the rest of the specimens to the best
advantage.

The income of 1852 amounted to £12,802, and the
expenditure to £17,821. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 1,662. The admissions to the Gardens
in 1852 were 305,203.



1853-

President: H.B.H. The Peince Albert, K.G.
Treasurer: Charles Drummond, Esq.
Secretary : D. W, Mitchell, Esq.



In 1853 the Aquarium was completed and opened,
with a collection of Fishes, Crustaceans, and other fresh-
water and marine animals. Examples of eight species
of mammals, twelve birds, and four reptiles were exhibited
for the first time; the most important among these
being a pair of Great Ant-eaters, and a pair of Asiatic
Lions from Gujerat. The Ant-eaters proved to be a
great attraction, and were figured and described in the
public Press.

The income of 1853 amounted to £1 7,508, and the
expenditure to £17,121. The number of Fellows was
1,662. The admissions to the Gardens were 409,076.

* See Wolf's picture of this animal, P. Z. S. 1852, pi. xxxiv., and
Zool. Sketch, vol. L, pi. xxix.



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Zoological Society of London. 177



1854.

President: H.B.H. The Pbince Albeet, KG-.

Treasurer : Charles Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



The chief works carried out in 1854 were the com-
pletion of the Hippopotamus-house, with a large bath
and massive iron railings ; the repair of the Monkey-house,
a winter house for Cafnivora in the South Garden ; a
glass house and enclosure for the Great Ant-eater; and
the rearrangement of the basement-story of the Giraffe-
house, where sleeping apartments for six keepers were
provided.

Seven species of mammals, eight of birds, and four of
reptiles were exhibited for the first time in 1854. Among
the donors to the Menagerie were the King of Portugal,
the Pasha of Egypt, the Prince of Wales (now King
Edward VII.), and Prince Alfred (the late Duke of Coburg).
The most important addition was the female Hippo-
potamus, " Adhela," presented by the Pasha of Egypt. It
arrived on July 22nd, on which date a pair of these
animals were exhibited for the first time in any of the
vivaria of Europe. They were the dam and sire of " Guy
Eawkes" (born Nov. 5th, 1872), the large female still
living in the Gardens. The Clouded Tiger (Felis macro-
celis), so closely associated with the name of Sir Stamford
Baffles, was exhibited for the first time this year, as was
also the small Two-toed Ant-eater (Cycloturus didactylus).

The Council, in their Eeport, called attention to the
fertility of the Elands, bequeathed to the Society by the
late President (the Earl of Derby), And expressed a hope
that these beautiful animals might be established and
acclimatised in the parks of England. They also described
the hatching out of some eggs of the Australian Brush-

o



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178 A Short History of the

turkey, and the breeding of the Impeyan and Japanese
Pheasants.

The income of 1854 amounted to £16,901, and the
expenditure to £19,043. The number of Fellows was
1 ,744. The admissions to the Gardens were 407,676.



1855.

President: H.E.H. The Prince Albert, K.G.

Treasurer: Charles Drummond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



In 1855 little new work of importance was carried out.
The Museum was closed, the types of the species described
in the Society's publications being transferred to the
Trustees of the British Museum, as the Council believed
that in this way they would best carry out the intentions
of donors and collectors. The Trustees of the Museum
also purchased a series of specimens for an agreed price of
£500. Sales to the amount of £700 were effected to the
Queen's Colleges in Galway and Cork, besides smaller
sales to provincial and other museums.

In the list of donors occur the names of the Prince
Consort and the King of Portugal. Examples of seven
species of mammals, of eight birds, and of four reptiles
were exhibited for the first time. Among these were three
specimens of the large Indian Fruit-Bat (Cynopterus
collaris), which, since then, has bred freely in the
Gardens. Three young Elands were sold to Viscount
Hill, who proposed to carry on experiments on the accli-
matisation of this Antelope. The death of a small female
Elephant took place in July, and was believed to have
been due to fright at the thunderstorm which broke over
London on the fourteenth of the month. In other respects



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Zoological Society of London. 179

the general health of the Menagerie was satisfactory, and
losses by death were small.

The income of 1855 amounted to £14,088, and the
expenditure to £14,737. The number of Fellows was
1,752. The admissions to the Gardens were 315,002.



1856.

President: H.B.H. The Prince Albert, K.G.

Treasurer: Charles Drtjmmond, Esq.

Secretary: D. W. Mitchell, Esq.



Pew new works of importance were undertaken in
1856. The Queen and the King of Portugal headed the list
of donors. Examples of six species of mammals, eleven
of birds, and sixteen of reptiles were exhibited for the
first time. Among these may be mentioned the Beatrix
Antelope, the Brindled Gnu, and the Markhoor ; also the
Mantchurian Crane and the Honduras Turkey. The
Elands disposed of to Viscount Hill throve satisfactorily
at Hawkstone, and the Marquis of Breadalbane purchased
from the Society three fawns, born in 1856, in the hope of
establishing this Antelope as a park-animal in Scotland.