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

two birds. The number of animals in the Menagerie on
December 31st was 2,265, showing an increase of sixty
over the number at the corresponding period of the
previous year.

The interest of the Davis Fund in 1876 was devoted to
popular lectures on Zoology.

The ninth volume of the Society's ' Transactions * was
completed in December 1876 by the issue of Part XI.
It contained twelve memoirs by various authors, amongst
which was an important article by Dr. A. Leith Adams
on the Maltese Fossil Elephants, illustrated by twenty-
two plates. Other contributors to the vdlume were Owen,
Parker, and Viscount Walden, the President. The final
article in this volume was by the Secretary on the
Ehinoceroses living in the Society's Menagerie, which
are illustrated in five beautiful plates, drawn by Wolf.

The great attraction of the Indian animals brought
home by the Prince of Wales raised the income of the
Society in 1876 to £34,955. The expenditure was £31,635.
The number of Fellows on December 31st was 3,311.
The admissions to the Gardens were 915,764.



1877.

President : The Mabquis of Tweeddale, F.E.S.
Treasurer : Eobebt Dbummond, Esq.
• Secretary : P. L, Sclateb, Esq., F.E.S.



The large summer-cages outside the Lion House were
finished and opened in 1877 with satisfactory results.



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Zoological Society of London. 209

The animals were able to take air and exercise, and the
visitors had much greater facilities for seeing them. The
Sheep Sheds were removed from their old position near
the Lion-house, new stone steps were put up at the
Terrace, and an ornamental fence and gates were erected
at the North Entrance. The second-class Kefreshinent
Eoom was rebuilt.

The Queen and the Prince of Wales headed the
list of donors in 1877. Examples of twenty mammals,
thirty-two birds, five reptiles, and • one batrachian
were exhibited for the first time. The most important
mammals were the White-cheeked Gibbon, the Gelada
Baboon, the Woolly Cheetah, the Burrhel Wild Sheep,
the Bohor Antelope, the East African Buffalo, the Meso-
potamian Fallow Deer, the Porcine Deer, and a Three-
banded Armadillo. The birds included the Brazilian
Motmot, the Guianan Crested Eagle, the Ceylon Hawk
Eagle, and the American Tantalus. The breeding list
comprised twenty-two mammals and fourteen birds.
There was a slight decrease in the number of animals
in the Menagerie on December 31st, as compared with
the corresponding number in 1876.

The Davis Fund of 1876 was devoted to popular
lectures, which, with the exception of the first, were
delivered in the old Museum-Building.

In 1877 the sixth edition of the ' List of the Vertebrated
Animals in the Society's Gardens/ prepared by the
Secretary, was issued, the names of all the* specimens
added to the Collection during the years 1872 to 1875
having been inserted in their proper places. The results
showed that since the commencement of 1861 up to that
period, specimens of 2,143 species of vertebrated animals
had been exhibited.

On June 7th, 1877, the Gold Medal of the Society
was presented to H.B.H. The Prince of Wales at Marl-
borough House, in acknowledgment of his many valuable
donations to the menagerie, and other favours. The pre-
sentation was made by a deputation to The Prince,
consisting of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary.

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210 t A Short History of the

In this year also the Silver Medal was conferred on
Mr. Eobert Hudson, F.R.S., V.P., in recognition of his
valuable services as a member of the Council, and of
various committees.

In 1877 the freehold of the house used as offices
(No. 11, Hanover Square) and of the house at the back was
purchased, in order to obtain additional accommodation.

The Eev. E t A. Tickell presented to the Library four
illustrated manuscript volumes on the ' Birds of India,'
prepared by the late Col. S. R. Tickell.

In this year also the Rev. W. C. Raffles Flint (now
Canon Raffles Flint, F.Z.S.), presented to the Society a
marble bust of his relative, the late Sir Stamford Raffles,
the Founder and first President of the Society. This
bust was placed in the Lion-house.

The income of 1877 amounted to d630,988, and the
expenditure to £29,002. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,358. The admissions to the Gardens
were 781,377.



1878.

President : The Mabquess of Tweeddale, F.R.S.

Treasurer: Robert Drummond, Esq.

Secretary : P. L. SciiATER, Esq., F.R.S.



The only new works at the Gardens carried on this
year were the lowering of the pump in the well in order to
obtain a better supply of water, and the repair of the slip
on the canal-bank in front of the Elephant-house. This
slip had long been a subject of contention between the
Regent's Canal Company and the Society, but was at last
satisfactorily settled.

On December 29th, 1878, the Marquess of Tweeddale,
President of the Society, died, and Prof. W. H. Flower,
F.R.S., was selected by the Council as his successor.

Sixteen species of mammals, twenty-four of birds, and



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Zoological Society of London. 211

eleven of reptiles were exhibited for the first time during
this year. Among the mammals were the Brown Mouse-
Lemur and Smith's Dwarf Lemur, the Isabelline Bear,
the Equine Antelope, and the Hairy Tapir. The most
important acquisition was that of a young male Hippo-
potamus, born in the Amsterdam Gardens, purchased for
the sum of £800.

The breeding-list of 1878 included twenty-six mam-
mals, twenty-seven birds, and two reptiles. The total
number of animals in the Menagerie on December 31st
was 2,178, showing a decrease of twenty-two as compared
with the corresponding period of 1877.

Prof. Huxley was the Davis Lecturer for the year
1878, his course consisting of six addresses on Crus-
taceous Animals and their Organization.

In 1878 the Society's Silver Medal was presented to
Col. Sir Frederick Eichard Pollock, K.C.S.L, in acknow-
ledgment of his donations to the Menagerie.

At the Anniversary Meeting, April 29th, 1878, a gold
watch and chain, of the value of fifty guineas, was presented
to Mr. John H. Leigh, the Society's Accountant, in
testimony of his long and valuable services, extending
over a period of fifty years.

The income of 1878 amounted to £27,944, and the
expenditure to £27,266. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,416. The admissions to the Gardens
were 706,713.



1879.

President : Peof. W. H. Flowbe, F.B.S.

Treasurer : Bobeet Deummond, Esq.
Secretary : P. L. Sclatee, Esq., F.E.S.



In 1879 a new work-shed Was erected for the use of
the painters and mechanics in the eastern corner of the
North Garden*

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212 M Short History of the

A slip on the North Canal bank took place, which
again raised the question as to whether the Society or the
Canal Company were liable in such cases. The iron and
glass building which formerly served as a second-class
refreshment room was re-erected near the north entrance.

At the Anniversary Meeting the election of Prof. W.
H. Flower to the office of President was confirmed.

The list of species new to the Collection in 1879
included twelve mammals, twenty-six birds, ten. reptiles,
and two fishes. Among the mammals were the Mitred
Monkey, Bed-faced Saki, Japanese Goat-Antelope, and
Mule Deer. Special attention was called in the Council's
Eeport for this year to the beautiful pair of Horned
Parrakeets, from New Caledonia, rare even in the prin-
cipal museums, and a plate illustrating this species was
given as a frontispiece.

The breeding-list comprised twenty-three mammals,
eighteen birds, and three reptiles. The number of
animals in the Menagerie on December 31st was 1,955,
showing a decrease of 223, chiefly among the reptiles.
The old male Hippopotamus, presented by the Viceroy of
Egypt in 1850, died on March 11th.

Among the Davis Lectures given this year was one
by the President, Prof. Flower, F.B.S., on Birds that do
not Fly.

In October, 1879, the tenth volume of the Society's
' Transactions ' was completed by the issue of the thirteenth
part. The principal contributors to this volume were
Mivart, Busk, Garrod, Parker, and Flower. The last
part (Part xxi.) of Owen's long series of papers on
Binornis appeared in this volume.

In 1879 a new story was added to the Society's house,
No. 11, Hanover Square, in order to provide additional
accommodation for the Library. The back room on the
second floor was assigned to readers, while the new large
room on the upper story allowed ample space for additions.
A new Library Catalogue was printed, and the sum of
JE326 was devoted to the purchase of Zoological books.

Mr. A. H. Garrod, F.E.S., Prosector to the Society,



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Zoological Society of London. 213

died on October 17th, after about eight years' service.
The Council placed on record the expression of their great
regret at this loss, and to fill the vacancy thus caused
appointed, as Prosector, (on January 7th, 1880), Mr.
William Alexander Forbes, B.A., Scholar of St. John's
College, Cambridge, who had acted as Mr. Garrod's
deputy during his absence abroad in the winter of
187&-79.

The seventh edition of the List of Vertebrated Animals
in the Society's Gardens, prepared by the Secretary, was
issued this year. It contained the names of 2,325 species
of vertebrated animals, specimens of which had been
exhibited since the commencement of the work in 1862.

Mr. John Henry Leigh, the Society's Accountant,
died in January, 1879, and Mr. John Barrow, who had
acted as Mr. Leigh's Assistant for upwards of nine years,
was appointed to succeed him.

The income of 1879 amounted to £26,463, and the
expenditure to £25,146. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,364. The admissions to the Gardens
were 643,000,



1880.

President: Pbof. W. H. Flowbe, F.E.S.

Treasurer : Eobebt Dbummond, Esq.
Secretary: P. L. Sclateb, Esq., F.E.S.



In 1880, in consequence of falling revenue, the expendi-
ture on new works in the Society's Gardens was restricted
to narrow limits. The building now used as an Insect-
house was removed from the South Gardens into its
present position, and fitted up for the reception of delicate
animals which thrive only when kept in a continuously
high temperature. The Parrot-house was reconstructed,
and the Crows'-oages that stood on the south side of it



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214 , t A Short History of the

were removed, bo as to provide a more suitable doorway.
After being put into good repair, these cages were re-
erected in the South Gardens, near the western Aviary as
" Crows'-cages."

By the kindness of Mr. Charles Henry Gatty, F.Z.S.,
of Felbridge Park, East Grinstead, a new Band-stand was
presented to the Society, and erected in the centre of the
South Gardens. Some additional accommodation being
needed for naturalists engaged in special anatomical
investigations at the Prosector's Office, the erection of
some workrooms at the back was commenced; and,
towards the close of the year, the ground was cleared for
the proposed new Beptile-house in the South Gardens.

In 1880 the Prince of Wales again headed the list of
donors, having presented to the Society two Thars, two
Wild Boars, six Himalayan Monauls, three Horned Tra-
gopans, one Temminck's Tragopan, and one Spotted
Turtle Dove. The list of species exhibited for the first
time in 1880 included fifteen mammals, thirty birds, and
seventeen reptiles. Among the new mammals were the
Burrhel Sheep, the Short-nosed Bandicoot,. the Koala, or
Native Bear of Australia (the first brought alive to Europe),
the Luhdorf 's Deer, and the Tch61i Monkey. The birds
included a Japanese Hawk-Eagle, a Tufted Umbre, and
an Ivory Gull.

The breeding list of 1880 enumerates twenty-two
mammals, eighteen birds, and one reptile. The number
of specimens in the Menagerie on December 31st was
2,372, showing an increase of 417 as compared with the
corresponding period in 1879. The old female Polar Bear
died in 1880, after having lived in the Gardens for about
thirty-four years.

A grant of £50 was made to the Zoological Eecord
Association, and the proceeds of the Davis Trust Fund
were devoted to a series of Zoological lectures. These
were given by Prof. Flower, F.E.S., Prof. Mivart, F.E.S.,
Prof. Parker, F.E.S., Prof. Huxley, F.E.S, Mr. Sclater,
and other naturalists.

New shelving was provided for the Library ; the books



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Zoological Society of London. 215

were rearranged, and the press-marks were entered in the
standard catalogue.

A supplement to the List of Vertebrated Animals in
the Society's Gardens, issued this year, contained the
names of the animals received in 1879, together with the
date of their arrival, and the mode of acquisition of each
specimen.

The income of 1880 amounted to £27,388, and the
expenditure to £26,579. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,309. The admissions to the Gardens
were 675,979.



1881.

President: Pbof. W. H. Flowee, F.E.S.

Treasurer: Eobeet Deummond, Esq.

Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

Secretary: P. L. Sclatee, Esq., F.E.S.



At the Society's Gardens, in 1881, the principal works
carried out were the repairs of existing buildings, the pre-
parations of the site for the proposed new Eeptile-house,
and the fitting-up of the Insect-house, which was opened
on April 25th, and placed under the charge of Mr. Watkins ;
an experienced Entomologist and breeder of insects.

The list of animals new to the collection in 1881
contained eleven mammals, seventeen birds, eleven reptiles,
and one fish. Among the mammals the most remarkable
additions were a White-nosed Saki (of which till this time
the type specimen in tjie Paris Museum was unique in
Europe), a Goral Antelope, a Eubiginous Cat, and a Gemul
Deer. The Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, the Eed Bird
of Paradise, the Green Manucode, the Indian Darter, the
Vinaceous Amazon, and the Germain's Polyplectron were
special novelties among the birds.



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216 A Short History of the

The breeding list of 1881 included thirty mammals,
among which was the Beisa Antelope (probably the first
instance of this Antelope breeding in captivity), twenty-
three birds, and two reptiles.

The number of animals in the Gardens on December
31st, 1881, was 2,294, showing a decrease of seventy-eight
as compared with the corresponding period of 1880. The
new studies in the Prosector's Office were occupied by a
long-vacation class from Cambridge, who worked at the
Comparative Anatomy of the Mammals, under Mr. Lister,
the Demonstrator. The Pathological Society formed a
Committee for the study of Comparative Pathology, and
two members worked regularly in the Prosector's room.
The most important death was that of a male Giraffe, the
last of those bred in the Menagerie.

Mr. Eobert Drummond, the Treasurer of the Society,
died on the 29th of April of this year, and his son, Mr.
Charles Drummond was elected Treasurer in his place.

The usual grant was made to the Zoological Eecord
Association, and the Davis Lectures were given at the
Gardens. Prof. Flower chose for his first subject
" Whales," and for his second lecture " Dolphins."

Additional space being required in the Society's House,
especially a larger room for holding the scientific meetings,
it was determined to build a new meeting-room, with a
store-room beneath it for the stowage of publications.
This arrangement, however, was not carried out, the
difficulty having been met in another way.

The income of 1881 amounted to £25,810, and the
expenditure to £25,687. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,213. The admissions to the Gardens
were 648,694.



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Zoological Society of London. 217

1882.

President : Peof. W. H. Floweb, F.B.S.

Treasurer : Chaeles Deummond, Esq.

Secretary : P. L. Sclatee, Esq., F.E.S.



In 1882 a reserve-shed for spare animals was built at
the back of the Cattle Sheds ; a glass roof was fixed over
the Kangaroo Sheds, and a large tank was erected in the
Fish-house, to enable the movements of the Diving Birds
under water to be seen. The contract for the new Beptile-
house was signed, and the works were begun.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Christian headed
the list of donors. Seventeen mammals, forty birds,
twenty reptiles, four amphibians and one fish were
exhibited for the first time. The mammals included
the Pigmy Hog, the Mediterranean Seal, an appa-
rently undescribed species of Dog from the Amazons,
and Coquerel's Mouse-Lemur. Among the new birds
were the Warty-faced Honey-eater, the Eifle-Bird, the
Badiated Fruit -Cuckoo, the Black -headed Tragopan,
the Jackass Penguin, and the Elliot's Pheasant. The
most noteworthy reptile was a Heloderm Lizard, the
venomous character of which was established by expe-
riments in the Gardens. In the breeding list were
enumerated twenty-one mammals, eighteen birds, and
one reptile. The breeding of the Gayal is believed to
be the first recorded instance in Europe, and the Tapirs
bred this year for the first time in the Gardens. The
number of animals in the Menagerie on December 31st
was 2,355.

This year Jumbo, the great African Elephant, was
sold to Mr. Barnum, because it was considered unsafe
to keep him in the Gardens any longer. The sale caused
a great deal of excitement, but the Council would not
have parted with the animal unless satisfactory reasons



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218 A Short History of the

for so doing had been placed before them by the respon-
sible executive of the Gardens. A passage in the ' Notes '
left by the late Superintendent, Mr. A. D. Bartlett, and
subsequently published, tersely explains this : " Finding
that Jumbo . . . was likely to do some fatal .mischief, I
made an application to the Council to be supplied with
a sufficiently powerful rifle, in the event of finding it
necessary to kill him." The excitement about Jumbo
led to the introduction of " riding- tickets.' ' After May 1st,
1882, rides on the Elephants and Camels were restricted
to persons who had bought tickets, for which twopence
each was charged. The price for Camel tickets was soon
reduced to a penny. But the new regulation produced
dG305 in the eight months of this year in which it was in-
force. It has been found to work satisfactorily ever since,
and a portion of the money taken in this way is divided
amongst the keepers of these animals.

In 1882 there was the usual grant of £50 to the
Zoological Eecord Association, and the Davis Lectures
were given at the Gardens. Prof. Flower, F.E.S., spoke
on Armadillos, Living and Extinct ; Prof. Boyd Dawkins,
F.E.S., on the British Lion; Prof. Parker, F.E.S., on
Crocodiles; Prof. Mivart, F.E.S., on British Snakes
and Lizards; Mr. W. A. Forbes, on Frogs and Toads;
Prof. Martin Duncan, F.E.S., on Insects and their
Metamorphoses; and Mr. Sclater, on Foreign Zoological
Gardens.

The Silver Medal of the Society was presented this
year to Dr. John Dean Caton, LL.D., Corresponding
Member, in acknowledgment of his valuable donations
to the Society's Menagerie.

The income of 1882 amounted to £34,270, and the
expenditure to £29,376. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,213. The admissions to the
Gardens were abnormally increased by the excitement
caused by the " Jumbo-mania/ ' and rose to the large
number of 849,776, the second highest on record, having
been only surpassed in 1876 (915,764), when the Prince
of Wales's Indian collection was on view.



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Zoological Society of London. 219

1883.

President : Peof. W. H. Flowek, F.E.S.

Treasurer : Chables Dkummond, Esq.

Secretary : P. L. Sclatee, Esq., F.E.S.



The new Beptile-house was completed and opened to
the Public in August 1883. The total cost of this new
house was £9174. A new heating apparatus was provided
at the Monkey-house, and the asphalt flooring of the
Lions' Dens was covered with wood.

The species new to the collection exhibited during
1883 comprised twelve mammals, fourteen birds, thirteen
reptiles, and one batrachian. One of the most important
acquisitions was a young female Chimpanzee,' purchased
in October. This was the famous " Sally " (probably
referable to the form described by Du Chaillu as Troglo-
dytes calvus), which lived eight years in the Society's
Gardens. Another was the Grey Lemur (Hapalemur
griseus). A male and two female Babirussas (Babirussa
alfurus) were presented, and shortly before their arrival
in England one of the females gave birth to a young one,
which reached the Gardens safely with its dam.

The eighth edition of the List of Vertebrated Animals
living in the Society's Gardens, prepared by the Secretary,
was published in 1883, and contained what may be con-
sidered a nearly complete list of the animals that had
been represented in the Society's Menagerie during the
previous twenty years. It was illustrated by sixty-one
woodcuts, mostly taken from the Society's ' Proceedings,'
but some of them kindly lent by the proprietors of
' Nature.' The List contains the names of 667 species of
mammals, 1,447 of birds, 307 of reptiles, 48 of batrachians,
and 88 of fishes, altogether 2,557 species.

The breeding list of 1883 enumerated twenty-two
mammals, seventeen birds, and three reptiles. Among



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220 A Short History of the

these were four Pigmy Hogs (Porcula salvmia), which
however did not long survive their birth.
1 The total number of animals in the Menagerie on
December 31st, 1883, was 2,398, showing an increase of
forty-three as compared with the corresponding period of
the previous year.

The proceeds of the Davis Trust Fund in 1883 were
devoted to lectures in the Gardens, which were given
by Prof. Flower, F.B.S., Prof. Mivart, F.B.S., Prof.
Parker, F.E.S., Mr. Henry Seebohm, and other zoologists.

The office of Prosector became vacant on January 14th
of this year by the death of Mr. W. A. Forbes at Shonga,
400 miles up the Niger, whither he had gone, on his own
account, on a collecting expedition.

The special Committee of the Council, appointed to
deal with the question of utilising the premises in Oxford
Street (formerly leased by the Society to Mr. Purdey, the
gunmaker), and the provision of a new Meeting Boom,
reported that the addition thus acquired would be un-
satisfactory, and would give only temporary relief. It
was, therefore, proposed to sell this site and to purchase
the freehold house, No. 3 Hanover Square (then vacant),
for the sum of £16,250. This plan was carried out, and
possession was taken of the new premises in the autumn
of 1883. This house having been vacant many years and
in bad repair, it was necessary to spend a large sum on
repairs and new fittings, which altogether ultimately
amounted to nearly £10,000.

In order to carry out this purchase and the necessary
expenditure on the building, the sum. of £12,000 was
borrowed from Messrs. Drummond, upon mortgage at
4 per cent., the Society undertaking to pay off the amount
by annual instalments of £1000. This undertaking was
duly carried out, the last sum of £1000 having been paid
to Messrs. Drummond on the 15th of June, 1895.

The income of 1883 amounted to £28,966, and the
expenditure to £38,040. The number of Fellows on
December 31st was 3,210. The admissions to the Gardens
were 743,485.



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Zoological Society of London. 221



1884.

President: Pbof. W. H. Floweb, F.B.S.

Treasurer : Chables Dbummond, Esq.

Secretary : P. L. Sclateb, Esq., F.K.S.



In consequence of the large expenditure on the new
Offices in Hanover Square, no important works were
undertaken at the Gardens in 1884, though a good deal
was done there in the way of repairs and painting by the
ordinary staff of workmen.

The animals new to the collection exhibited this year
comprised eleven mammals, thirty-two birds, sixteen
reptiles, and two batrachians. The more important
mammals were the Wild Ass from Somaliland, and a
Hairy-fronted Muntjac (Gervulus crinifrons). Among the
birds were the African Cormorant (Phalacrocorax afri-
canus), the Nepalese Hornbill (Aceros nepalensis), the
Banded Gymnogene (Polyboroides typicus), the Bed-
cheeked Coly (Colius erythromelori), the Purple Barbet
(Trachyphonus purpuratus), and the Blue Snow-Goose
(Chen ccerulescens).

The breeding list of 1884 included thirty-three species
of mammals and fifteen of birds.

Mr. F. E. Beddard was appointed Prosector to the
Society on the 16th of January, 1884, to succeed the late