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THE
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF LONDON
This Edition is limited to 1,000 copies, of which this is No.d^./.y
i
PLATE I.
THE WESTERN AVIARY.
{See p. 83.)
THE
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON
A SKETCH OF ITS
FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AND THE STORY OF ITS
FARM, MUSEUM, GARDENS, MENAGERIE AND LIBRARY
HENRY SCHERREN, F.Z.S.
MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION
Author of the Official "Short History," forming part of "A Record of Progress, edited by Dr. P. L. Sclater, F.R.S., late Secretary of the Zoological Society, "A Popular History of Animals," "Through a Pocket Lens," etc.
CASSELL AND COMPANY, Limited
LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK &> MELBOURNE. MCMV
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
OCT 4 1991
\<;:
> /,-■
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD, K.G.,
the Eighth
President of the Zoological Society of London,
This Sketch
of
Its Foundation and Work
is,
By Permission, Respectfully Dedicated.
PREFACE.
In presenting this book to what I believe will prove a friendly public, attention may be drawn to the fact that this is the first attempt to tell the story of the Zoological Society at any length. Nearly seven years ago, though the project had not then taken definite shape, it received the approval of Dr. Sclater, who kindly gave me free access to the Society's records, and, in consequence of my work on them, entrusted me with the preparation of the official " Short History." Since then his successor, Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, has kindly allowed me the same privileges and increased my obligations to him by reading the proofs and making valuable suggestions.
My aim throughout has been to record facts and to give authority for any statement that seemed in conflict with gener- ally received opinion, without comment or the obtrusion of my own views. While gathering material from every available source, two considerations forced themselves upon me, and, as a consequence, find expression in these pages. First, that the foundation of the Zoological Society of London was a natural development from the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society ; and the second, that before the Zoological Society was half a century old, its bionomical work practically ceased owing to the increasing influence of morphographers and systematists in its councils. The election of the Duke of Bedford as President, the recommendations of the Reorganisation Committee, and subsequent changes, mark a return to lines laid down by the Charter.
The rest of my task is a very pleasant one — to offer my sincere thanks to all who have helped me in the preparation of this history. I am especially grateful to the President for accepting the dedication ; and to the Duchess of Bedford, I am indebted for such particulars of the Woburn collection as were necessary for the purposes of the book.
viii PREFACE.
Professor Alfred Newton, F.R. S., has favoured me with much information that has been incorporated. My obligations to Dr. Sclater and Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell are again acknowledged ; without the facilities granted by them it would have been useless to attempt the task. Mr. Arthur Ashbridge, District Surveyor of Marylebone, invited me to examine his records concerning the Gardens. Mr. R. I. Pocock has assisted me in matters of identification. My old friends Mr. F. H. Waterhouse and Mr. J. Barrow rendered valuable help — indeed, everybody at Hanover Square evinced an interest in the work that was extremely gratifying.
The Council of the Linnean Society courteously gave me ready access to the Swainson Correspondence, and the General Secretary, Mr. B. Daydon Jackson, was equally obliging with respect to the few records that exist of the Zoological Club; these were first shown me by my friend Mr. J. E. Harting, at Dr. Sclater's request, when I was en- gaged on the "Short History." For the photograph of the Okapi (Plate 47) in Tring Museum, I am indebted to the Hon. Walter Rothschild, M.P. ; to Mr. H. D. Crompton for that of the interesting statuette of George the Fourth's Nubian Girafi'e (Plate 2), and to my friend Mr. H. E. Dresser for the in- formation, too late for insertion in its proper place, that Dr. Crisp bought the stuffed skin of that animal when the Museum collection was dispersed. Lastly, I should be in the highest degree ungrateful if I did not include my wife among those to whom my warmest thanks are due. She has shared in all my labours ; and if, as I hope, the book be of permanent value, I, at least, shall ascribe no small part of the credit to her help and encouragement. Henry Scherren.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface vii
Chapter I. {1822-1826) ........ i
Chapter II. {1827—1830) 25
Chapter III. {1831—1840) 51
Chapter IV. {1841—1850) 80
Chapter V. {1851—1860) I 103
Chapter VI. [1861—1870) 126
Chapter VII. {1871—1880) 150
Chapter VIII. {1881—1890) 176
Chapter IX. {1891—1900) 200
Chapter X. {1901—1904) 224
Indbx 247
LIST OF COLOURED PLATES.
I. Western Aviary II. Terrace, from the Main Entrance
III. Camel House ....
IV. Three Island Pond .
V. Parrot and Elephant Houses . VI. Monkey House .... VII. Tunnel, from Canal Bridge VIII. Lion House .... IX. Broad Walk, with Elephants . X. Tortoise House XI. Ape House XII. Sea Lions' Pond
Frontispiece
To face page 18
40
62
80
102
126
146
168
190
212
LIST OF BLACK AND WHITE PLATES.
PLATE
1. Sir Joseph Banks's House To face page 2
2. George the Fourth's Nubian Giraffe . . . „ „ 6
3. Gardens of the Zoological Society, Regent's Park,
1829 „ „ 10
4. Waterfowls' Lawn „ „ 14
5. Llama House, 1829 : Courtyard : Pelicans' En-
closure „ „ 24
6. Repository : Rabbits and Armadillos : Zoological
Gardens : Polar Bear : Monkey and Pole . „ „ 28
7. Beaver Pond and Falcons' Aviary : Aviary ; Cattle
Sheds and Yards „ „ 32
8. Elephant Paddock and Wapiti House . . . „ „ 36
9. First Monkey House „ „ 44
10. First Lady Jane : First Chimpanzee . . . „ „ 50
11. Thibaut's Herd of Giraffes „ „ 54
12. Elephant in his Bath : Giraffes . . . . „ „ 58
13. Medal and Seal „ „ 66
14. Elephant and Calf : Death of Jack . . . „ „ 72
15. Some Winners of the First Poultry Show . . „ „ 76
16. Obaysch in his Pond : Obaysch and Arab Keeper „ „ 84
17. Serpent Charmers : First Reptile House . . „ „ 88
18. Mesopotamian Lions : Fish House . . . . „ „ 92
19. Clouded Leopards „ .,96
20. Grey's Quagga ......... ,,106
21. Shoe-bill Storks „ ,,110
22. Antelope House : Sable Antelopes . . . „ „ 114
23. Entrance to Zoological Gardens in 1840 : Present
Entrance „ ,,118
24. Eagles' Aviary „ ,,122
25. African Elephants „ ,,130
26. Walruses . . „ „ 134
27. African Rhinoceros „ „ 133
28. Hoolock Gibbons „ „ 142
xii LIST OF BLACK AND WHITE PLATES.
TUiTK
29. Wombwell's Gorilla To face
30. New Lion House : Shifting the Carnivora . . „
31. Some of the Prince of Wales's Animals . - . „
32. Reptile House „
33. Departure of Jumbo „
34. Zoological Society's Headquarters, Hanover Square „
35. Meeting Room of the Zoological Society . . „
36. Meeting of the Zoological Society at Hanover
Square „
37. The Lawn „
38. Moti, the Pearl „
39. Jenny, the Gorilla „
40. Daisy, Ward's Giraffe „
41. Zebra, figured by Ludolphus . . . . . „
42. Rocky Mountain Goat : Selous' Antelope . . „
43. Cranes' Paddock
44. Kangaroo Paddock : Small Mammals' House
45. Grevy's Zebra : Grant's Zebra . . . . „
46. Jingo Carrying in the Broad Walk . . . „
47. Prjevalsky's Horses : Okapi in Tring Museum . „
48. Jim „
49. Anthropoids from the Hon. Walter Rothschild's
Collection „
50. Library of the Zoological Society . . . . „
»
PLANS.
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PAGE
Decimus Burton's Plan of the Ground 28
Plan of the Garden, 1829 38
The Farm at Kingston Hill, 1829-1833 42
West End of North Garden and Northward Ex- tension, 1834 54
East End of North Garden and Northward Ex- tension, 1834 55
Plan of the Gardens, 1851 106
West End of Middle and North Garden, 1874 .... 152 East End of Middle and North Garden, 1874 . . . .153
Plan of Gardens, 1905 233
THE
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
CHAPTER I. 1822—1826.
ALTHOUGH the Society did not come into existence till ' 1826, for some years previous various influences were at work that rendered the establishment of such a body not only desirable but necessary. Activity in exploration had increased the sum of human knowledge with respect to the animal kingdom ; collections of living beasts, birds and reptiles, skins and fossils, were yearly brought to our shores, and a growing desire for information with regard to them was manifested by educated people generally. As a consequence, existing Societies were unable to deal adequately with the zoological papers pre- sented, or to allow time at their meetings for the discussion of zoological subjects. And during the first quarter of the nineteenth century the only collections of living animals accessible to dwellers in the metropolis were the Royal Menagerie in the Tower and the private one of Mr. E. Cross at Exeter 'Change,"^ just east of Burleigh Street, in the Strand. A visit to the Royal Menagerie near the Sandpit Gate in Windsor Park was not to be lightly undertaken.
The Royal Society, " the dignified parent of all our scientific societies," had been expressly instituted " for the promotion of natural knowledge " ; but, owing to the great development of
* In 1829 this was removed to the King's Mows, the site of which is now occupied by the National Gallery. In 1831 the collection was acquired by the Surrey Zoological and Botanical Society, and in the August of that year Queen Adelaide gave her patronage to the project of a zoological garden on the south side of the Thames, provided that it was "not in opposition, but only in a true spirit of rivalry to the establishment in Eegent's Park." B
2 THE ZOOLOQIOAL SOCIETY.
physical science, natural history had to put up with less attention than many of the Fellows considered the subject deserved. This led to the foundation of the Linnean Society in 1788, by Dr. James Edward Smith, a young Norwich physician, who was knighted in 1814. Its object was defined as " the cultivation of the science of Natural History in all its branches, and more especially of the Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland." But considering that the botanical work of the great Swedish naturalist was then rated as of more importance than his zoological studies, and that his books, manuscripts, and herbarium were purchased by Dr. Smith on the death of the younger Linnaeus in 1783, it will appear only natural that, in the early years of the Society, botany received more attention than the sister science of zoology. To this Sir William Flower alluded in his address to the Zoological Society at the meeting in the Gardens, June 16, 1887, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. He expressed the opinion that, if the leading Fellows of the Linnean Society had displayed more energy, it might have kept in its hands the principal direction of the biological studies of the country, instead of allowing the Zoological Society, which had since proved so formidable a rival, to spring up, and to absorb so large a portion of its useful function. Sir William was not curious to inquire into the reasons why the Linnean Society did not take advantage of the opportunity, but contented himself with the remark that " it did not supply all the needs of the lovers of Zoology."
Hence it came about that some members, quite as much interested in animals as in plants, determined to do some- thing to spread the systematic study of natural history. On November 29, 1822, the birthday of John Ray, "the father of modern zoology," a meeting was held at the rooms of the Linnean Society in Soho Square."^ The Rev. William Kirby, joint author with Spence of the famous " Introduction to
* On the death of Sir Joseph Banks in June, 1820, Robert Brown, the famous botanist, " clerk, housekeeper, and librarian " to the Society, suggested the advisa- bility of removal to Banks's house, in the south-west corner of Soho Square. The front part overlooking the square was accordingly taken, and here it vras that the meetings of the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society were held.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
3
I
Entomology," was the Chairman ; and it was then resolved to form a Club. In the following May bye-laws were adopted, and the privilege of membership was restricted to Fellows and Associates of the Linnean Society. The object of the Club was defined as " the study of zoology and comparative anatomy in all their branches, and more especially as they relate to the animals indigenous to Great Britain and Ireland." After some communication with the parent Society the new association was formally named the "Zoological Club of the Linnean Society of London " ; and it was arranged that all papers passed for publication should be offered to the Linnean Society, in whose Transactions (vols, xiv.-xvi.) many of them appear, for the Club had no publication of its own. The following is a list of the original members, and (C) denotes a member of the Committee:
* Bell, Thomas (C).
* Bennett, Edward Turner (C).t Blunt, Edward.
Booth, Thomas Swift.
* Curtis, John.
Dale, James Charles.
* Donovan, Edward. Du Bois, Charles. Hatchett, John. Hatchett, John, jun. Haworth, Adrian Hardy (C). Henslow, John Stevens.
* Horsfield, Thomas, M.D. (C).
* Jenyns, Leonard, Rev.
* Kirby, William, Rev. (C).
* Lovaine, George, Lord.
* MacLeay, Alexander.
* MacLeay, William Sharp. Milne, George (C).
* Percy, Hon. William Henry.
* Sabine, Joseph (Chairman). Sheppard, Revett, Rev. Sheppard, Edmund.
* Sowerby, George Brettingham. Sparshall, Joseph.
Spence, William.
* Stephens, James Francis (Treas.
* Vigors, Nicholas Aylward (Sec]
Owing to some misunderstanding Mr. Swainson declined to join the Club on its foundation, though he was elected in 1825. Among other members who played an important part in the early history of the Zoological Society must be men- tioned Mr. J. E. Bicheno (Chairman 1825-6), Secretary of the Linnean Society; Mr. J. Children (Chairman 1826-7), of the British Museum ; Mr. W. J. Broderip, the author of " Zoological Recreations," etc. ; Mr. Edward Griffiths, translator and editor
* Names marked thus appear in the first printed list of members of tho Zoological Society, January, 1829.
t "Under his management the Zoological Club [of the Linnean Society] became the starting-point of the Zoological Society of London."— Diet. Nat. Biog.^ iv. 241.
4 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
of Cuvier's " Regne Animal " ; Major C. Hamilton Smith, the explorer and practical naturalist; and Mr. William Yarrell, the well-known author of "British Fishes" and "British Birds." Sir Stamford Raffles was not a member, though he was eligible, having been elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society on February 15, 1825.
Some of the work was, of course, concerned with classifi- cation, and some with anatomy ; but field and practical zoology was largely represented. Thus, Burchell, to whom we owe the distinction between the mountain zebra and the commoner form named by Gray in his honour, contributed a paper on some African barbets, which he considered as forming a connecting link between the parrots and woodpeckers ; and he based his conclusions on observations made during his African travels. Yarrell raised the lancelet from its old position as a mollusc to the dignity of a fish, from which it has been deposed, though it now occupies a more interesting position as a degenerate representative of the ancestor whence backboned animals have developed. The same author here exhibited and described his preparations of the organs of voice in many birds, and those throwing light on the assumption of male plumage by hen birds. Nor must his dissections and descrip- tion of the jaws of the crossbill and the muscles actuating them be forgotten. Buffon had called the crossed tips of the bill a defect, an error of nature, which could not fail to be very inconvenient to the bird. Yarrell explained fully the working of the jaws and muscles " in riving asunder cones or apples, while at the proper moment the scoop-like tongue is instantaneously thrust out and withdrawn, conveying the hitherto protected seed to the bird's mouth."
To one of the meetings Bell brought a living example of the grison, a small South American weasel-like creature, which he described as being " playful and harmless as a cat." Stedman had previously given it a bad character for its depredations in poultry yards. Not improbably both accounts are correct. There is no reason why a rapacious little beast should not make a charming pet when it is kindly treated and liber- ally fed. Another of his contributions confirmed Schneider's observations as to toads swallowing their cast skins.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5
One special line of work pursued by the Club was the observation of rare bird visitors, with the result of a consider- able addition to the British Hst. In his presidential address at its sixth and last anniversary, November 29, 1829, Mr. N. A. Vigors enumerated the following species as having been added to the catalogue of British birds since the foundation of the Club, and chiefly by the exertions of its members : Tengmalm's owl, bluethroat, black redstart, Kichard's pipit, Alpine accentor, ortolan, Lapland bunting, parrot crossbill, buff-breasted sandpiper, Temminck's stint, Baillon's crake, Bewick's swan, red- crested pochard, ruddy sheldrake, Arctic tern, glaucous gull, ivory gull, and pomatorhine skua. Sabine's snipe was, of course, included, as was the Gambian goose. The latter may be neglected, since this species has been kept in this country as ornamental waterfowl for more than two centuries, and was well established in St. James's Park in the time of Charles II. Naturalists, therefore, regard occasional specimens that may be shot as escapes, not as genuine stragglers from Africa. For many years Sabine's snipe was ranked as a distinct species; then the view gained ground that it was only a melanoid variety on precisely the same level as the albino and fawn-coloured snipes occasionally met with. But though this view is embodied in standard books, doubts were expressed of its correctness by Mr. J. E. Harting at a scientific meeting of the Zoological Society in 1871 ; and Mr. Pycraft's paper in the Ibis for April, 1905, makes it clear that further investigation is necessary. Some of these so-called Sabine's snipes are undoubtedly melanoid varieties, inasmuch as they differ from the common snipe only in the intensity of their coloration. Mr. J. L. Bonhote drew the attention of the author of the paper mentioned above to the difference of the pattern of the plumage of some specimens, which resembled that of the great or solitary snipe. But two facts must not be lost sight of in considering this question : species, now admitted to be bad, have been founded on variations in plumage; and though Sabine's snipe is rarely met with outside the British Islands, it has never been found breeding.
Beyond the papers in the Linnean Transactions already
6 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
referred to, the amount of literature in connection with the Club is small. As was natural, the minute-books passed into the keeping of the parent Society, and there is a very brief abstract of them at the Zoological Society's offices. The Introductory Address delivered at its foundation by the Rev. William Kirby, the first Chairman, was published in the Zoological Journal for April, 1825. Those delivered by Messrs. J. E. Bicheno, J. E. Children, and Joshua Brookes, on their retirement from the chair in 1826, 1827, and 1828 respectively, and that of the Chairman, Mr. N. A. Vigors, on the dis- solution of the Club, November 29, 1829, were published separately at the request of the members, and copies of them are in the library at No. 3, Hanover Square. Some extracts will be of interest as showing the relations between the Club and the Zoological Society; especially as these have been somewhat overshadowed by the personality of Sir Stamford Raffles, for whom the whole credit of the new foundation has been claimed.
The Rev. W. Kirby 's address dealt with " the principal objects of our association, and the best methods of carrying them into effect." These were (1) the compilation of a Fauna of native animals, which should contain information from the economic point of view ; (2) geographical distribution ; (3) comparative anatomy; and (4) palaeontology. One expression in this address is suggestive. In treating of the preparation of the Fauna certain lines of investigation were said to be "legitimate objects of a Zoological Society." It is not easy to decide to what Society Mr. Kirby referred. Not to the Linnean, one would think, for the Club had been founded to give its members the opportunity for zoological work which the parent Society did not afford ; nor to the Club, which had a specific name — the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society of London — and was no more entitled to be called a Society than is the Linnean Club or the Zoological Club of the present day. It seems, therefore, permissible to conclude that the speaker was really referring to some Society the establishment of which for dealing exclusively with zoological matters was in contemplation. This might well be the case, for Sir Stamford Raffles visited England in 1816, and under
GEORGE THE FOURTH'S NUBIAN GIRAFFE. (See pp. 30, ^G.)
Cast of Statuette Modelled in Wax by S. Brown.
By kind permission of Mr. H. Dickenson Crompton. Plate 2,
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 7
the date of the following year, just before his sailing for Bencoolen is mentioned, his widow wrote \^
At this time he meditated the establishment of a society on the principle of the Jardin des Plantes, which finally, on his last return from the East, he succeeded in forming, in 1826, under the title of the Zoological Society of London.
It has been asserted that, during this visit to England, Sir Stamford broached the subject to Sir Joseph Banks, who, according to a statement in the Athenoeum of March 4, 1905, "expressed his warm approval of the proposal." This goes a little beyond what Mr. Demetrius C. Boulger had published in 1897 :
During his, Sir Stamford's, stay in 1817, he had discussed with Sir Joseph Banks a plan for establishing in London a zoological collection which should interest and amuse the publicf
If Sir Stamford did so mention the project to the President of the Royal Society, it is readily conceivable that it was discussed in scientific circles, and especially among the Fellows of the Royal and Linnean Societies, to both of which the Rev. W. Kirby belonged. But there is no evidence that any such discussion took place ; and it is equally possible that the Chairman of the Club was referring to a plan other than that of Sir Stamford Raffles, perhaps of Sir Humphry Davy or of some member of the Club. Reference to the quotations hereafter given will negative the statement that Sir Stamford Raffles intended " to interest and amuse the public." On this point we have the direct testimony of his widow, who records the fact J that he had not been many months in England — he returned in August, 1824 — when
He suggested a plan to Sir Humphry Davy for the formation of a zoological society which should combine with the pursuit of science the introduction and domestication of such quadrupeds, birds, and fishes as might be most likely to prove useful to agricultural and domestic purposes.
It seems at least possible that there has been some confusion between the two Presidents of the Royal Society,
* "Memoir of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, F.R.S.'* By his widow. London, 1830, p. 290.
t "Life of Sir Stamford Raffles," p. 341. + "Memoir," p. 589.
8 ^ THE ZOOLOOIGAL SOCIETY.
and that the suggestion made to Sir Humphry Davy has been wrongly transferred to his predecessor, Sir Joseph Banks, who was not referred to in this connection by Lady Raffles.
On relinquishing the chair, on November 29, 1826, Mr. Bicheno set the example of an annual address, deeming it " both useful and respectful." On that occasion, " surrounded by some of the leading zoologists of the kingdom," he gave a sketch of the progress of their science during the period of his presidency. He referred in a short paragraph to "the Zoological Society recently instituted in London," but said nothing about its foundation or the men who took part in the work.
Mr. Children followed the example thus set. Much of his address is taken up with a description of the progress made by the Zoological Society. In an account of its establishment the following passage occurs:
The spirit of its immortal founder [Sir Stamford Raffles] has gone forth, and will not fail to light up in every heart, capable of exalted feelings, some portion of that fire which animated his own ; some wish, some sacred hope of treading, with however unequal steps, in the path he has so zealously marked out for them.
In Dr. Brookes's address there is no direct reference to the foundation of tne Society, but there is incidental allusion to Sir Stamford Raffles's gift of an example of the Rafflesian squirrel* "to the museum of the Society which hails him with just pride as its founder."
The address of Mr. N. A. Vigors, the first Secretary and the last Chairman of the Club, and the first Secretary of the Zoological Society, is the most important, inasmuch as it distinctly claims that the members of the Club were, to say the least, co-workers with Sir Stamford Raffles. Mr. Vigors took an active part in the original formation of the Club ; and, to use his own words, "he pronounced its requiem," so that he spoke with authority. Having detailed the circum- stances which led " the few leading zoologists of whom we
* This was described by Vigors and Horsfield in the Zoological Journal (iv. 112, pi. 4) as a new species under the name Sciurus rafflesii. It is now known that the animal is the same as that described by Desmarest in 1820 as Sciurus prevosti.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 9
could at that time boast" to unite themselves into this Club, and having alluded to what they had effected, he added as a climax :
But it was in the impulse originally given by their exertions to the propagation of science, more particularly by laying the foundation of the Zoological Society, that powerful association which, with almost unlimited resources, carried their principles and their objects into execution, that their agency is to be traced.
An identical claim is made by Mr. Vigors when referring to the dissolution of the Club:
We can hope, in fact, to merit or attain no further wreath by our own exertions. The activity of those members who first promoted, and subsequently contributed to the support of, this club has been called into a wider and more useful sphere ; and to keep up the name and pre- tensions of a scientific body, with diminished resources — but, above all, to retain the character of representing the zoology of this country, where a more efficient and legitimate representative of the science [the Zoological Society], springing from ourselves, has left us little claim to the dignity— would only serve to institute a striking contrast, of benefit to neither party. We have, in fact, completed our work, and it is time we should retire. The arch is rounded, and the keystone filled in, and it is expedient that the humble scaffolding should be removed from all incongruous juxtaposition with the noble edifice which it w^as mainly instrumental in erecting.
In his peroration he again congratulated the Club on the part the members had played in the establishment of the Zoological Society:
On the eve of the dissolution of this club, it is a theme not merely of consolation, but of triumph, that we have been the embryo of that higher body which has now sprung into the perfect form. The individuals who are now about to separate will carry in their recollection, to their latest day, the share which they have had in this great consummation. The occurrences of those evenings will ever be vivid in their memory when, in conjunction with the illustrious founder and first president of that Society, they suggested the auspiciousness of the times for such an undertaking, and the probability, I should say the certainty, of success. With what delight have we dwelt upon the words of that great man when, with an intelligence that in a less enlightened age might have passed for a spirit of prophecy, he portrayed, even to the minutest details, the plans and the hopes which we have since seen realised !
10 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY,
Mr. Vigors concluded with a glowing eulogy on the qualities that marked out Sir Stamford Raffles as " the individual most fitted to organize and preside over such a national undertaking," and lauded the enthusiasm with which he devoted himself to the cause — while more cautious calculators watching the tide of events, prepared to retreat in misfortune, but ready in case of success to " swell the triumph and partake the gale." It is not improbable that the late Sir William Flower had the substance of this Address in his mind when, at the meeting in the Gardens on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887, he spoke of Sir Stamford Raffles as the leading spirit of the active and zealous band who united together and "subscribed and expended considerable sums of money for the purpose " of founding the Zoological Society of London.
The story of the foundation of the Zoological Society has to be pieced together from scanty materials, with the inevitable consequence that there are breaches of continuity. From the covering circular quoted on p. 13 it is evident that in 1824 a detailed prospectus of the objects of the Society was circulated privately, and it probably differed in no important particular from that printed on pp. 14-16. No copy of it is now known to exist ; nor is there any record of the names of " the friends of the proposed Society," who met in the July of that year and nominated the Committee by whose authority the corrected prospectus was published. In February, 1825 the following circular was issued :
It is proposed to establish a Society bearing the same relations to Zoology and Animal Life that the Horticultural Society bears to Botany and the Vegetable Kingdom.1
The object is to attempt the introduction of new races of Quadrupeds, Birds, or Fishes, etc., applicable to purposes of utility, either in our Farm Yards, Gardens, Woods, Waters, Lakes, or Rivers ; and to connect with this object a general Zoological collection of prepared specimens.
The Admission Fee to the Society is Three Pounds, and the Annual Subscription Two Pounds.
If it is your wish to be an original member of this Society, you will be so good as to signify the same to Mr. T. Griffiths, 21, Albemarle Street.
Two copies of this circular are preserved among some papers formerly belonging to Mr. Yarrell, at No. 3, Hanover
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THE ZOOLOOIGAL SOCIETY.
11
Square. One contains, on the second of the four pages, a printed list of seventy-seven subscribers:
Marquess of Lansdowne Earl of Egremont Earl Spencer Earl of Damley Earl of Minto Viscount Dudley- Viscount Gage Lord Stanley, M.P. Lord Clifton, M.P. Lord Lovaine, M.P. Lord F. Leveson Gower, M.P. Bishop of Carlisle Eight Hon. Sir George Rose Right Hon. Robert Peel, M.P. Sir Humphry Davy, P.R.S. Sir Stamford Raffles Sir George Staunton, M.P. Sir Everard Home Sir Robert Inglis, M.P. Gen. Sir R. Ferguson, M.P. Sir Benjamin Hobhouse Thomas Aston, Esq. C. PhiUip Rose, Esq. Baring Wall, Esq., M.P. Adrian H. Haworth, Esq. Dr. Harwood Gerard de Vismes, Esq. Walter Campbell, Esq., M.P. Robert Ferguson, Esq. Charles Bell, Esq. Joshua Brookes, Esq. P. Du Cane, Esq. Professor Jack E. J. Bennett, Esq., M.P. J. S. Stephens, Esq. Captain Mudge W. Macleay, Esq. The Duke of Bedford Earl of Hardwicke
William Ord, Esq., M.P.
Dr. Thomas Horsfield
William Rose, Esq.
Charles Stokes, Esq.
Henry Cline, Esq.
Joseph Sabine, Esq,
H. T. Colebrooke, Esq.
Leicester Parker, Esq.
Right Hon. Sir Charles Long
J. T. Simes, Esq.
Major-Gen. Hardwicke
Alexander Baring, Esq., M.P.
Richard Heber, Esq., M.P.
T. A. Knight, Esq., P.H.S.
T. A. Knight, Esq., Junr.
Charles Hatchett, Esq.
W. T. Brande, Esq.
Francis Chantrey, Esq.
A. B. Lambert, Esq.
Davies Gilbert, Esq., M.P.
Dr. Frank
Hon. M. Percy, R.N.
Col. Cuff
Edward Barnard, Esq.
W. Vigors, Esq.
W. Kirby*
J. E. Bicheno, Esq.
N. W. Ridley Colboum, Esq.,
M.P. R. Smirke, Esq. — Alexander, Esq. Mr. E. T. Gray Rev. T. W. Hope William Swainson, Esq. Capt. Brooke de Capel Brooke Thomas Cater, Esq. R. Pettiward, Esq. Hon. G. Agar EUis, M.P. Sir Robert Heron
It is somewhat difficult to account for the order in which these names occur. They might easily have been sent to the printers arranged alphabetically, or according to social status. But as neither method was followed, the only possible
* This should be Rev. W. Kirby. The same mistake occurs in the minutes of the Committee meeting of June 22 ; there it is corrected in pencil.
12
THE ZOOLOQIOAL SOCIETY.
conclusion seems to be that they were entered in the order in which the subscribers signified their adhesion to the project. On that supposition, too, one would expect Sir Stamford Raffles to head the list ; however, his name stands sixteenth, immediately below that of Sir Humphry Davy.
In the second copy the following names, bringing the number up to 151, are added in manuscript:
Earl of Lonsdale
Alex. Macleay, Esq.
Sir W. F. Middleton
Prof. G. C. Haughton
Earl of Mountmorris
Mr. a. B. Sowerby
W. J. Broderip, Esq.
T. HoWyn, Esq.
R. W. Newman, M.P.
J. G. CMldren, Esq.
Daniel Moore, Esq.
Bev. Dr. Goodenough
Right Hon. Lord Holland
Benj. King, Esq.
Dr. Such
Sir W. Rawson
S. H. Calcraft, Esq.
Hon. Col. Bligh
Benj. Brodie, Esq.
Lt.-Gen. Thornton
C. Calvert, Esq.
G. Pearson, M.D.
P. Snodgrass, Esq.
J. H. Slater, Esq.
Sir T. Dyke Acland
R. W. Coley, Esq., M.D.
8. Cartwright, Esq.
J. Cnrteis, Esq.
H. Jolliife, Esq., M.P.
Lord "Winchilsea
S. H. Clarke, Esq.
A. B. Vall^, Esq.
H. Warburton, Esq.
R. H. SoUy, Esq.
T. Macquoid, Esq.
G. C. Fox, Esq.
John Mangles, Esq.
F. Hodgson, Esq., M.P. J. Wardrop, Esq.
R. Murchison, Esq. Lord Clinton Earl of Malmesbury T. Hannison, Esq. R. J. Alexander, Esq. T. Bell, Esq. Mr. E. Donovan Capt. Mitford, R.N. P. J. Selby, Esq. George Selby, Esq. T. A. Atkins, Esq. T. C. Sowerby, Esq. Sir J. Shelley Hon. George Taunton Sir T. Lawrence Capt. E. Sabine Rev. J. Guthrie Duke of Somerset
G. B. Greenhough, Esq. J. Thompson, Junr., Esq. Earl Stanhope
Hon. W. S. Ponsonby S. Amory, Esq. Capt. T. 0. Travers R. Courtenay, Esq. Lord Selsey P. T. Selley, Esq. Robt. Barclay, Esq. W. Harrison, Esq. John Turner, Esq. Robert Mangles, Esq. Lord Calthorpe B. B. Cabbell, Esq. Sir Charles Coote, M.P. Marquess of Hertford.
Practically 75 per cent, of these names recur in the first printed List, bearing date January 1, 1829, and containing the
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
13
names of 1,294 ordinary Fellows and forty Honorary and Corresponding Members. Among these subscribers are in- cluded the first three Presidents (Sir Stamford Raffles, the Marquess of Lansdowne, and Lord Stanley, afterwards the thirteenth Earl of Derby), the four Yice-Presidents (Lord Auckland, the Earl of Darnley, the Marquess of Lansdowne, afterwards President, and the Duke of Somerset), the first Treasurer (Mr. Joseph Sabine), the first Secretary and Vice- Secretary (Mr. N. A. Vigors and Dr. T. Horsfield) ; the other members of the Council, as well as the Committee originally nominated in July, 1824, whose names are given on p. 14. The next important documents in point of date are the covering circular and prospectus:
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Foe the general advancement of Zoological Science, it is proposed that a Society shall be established, the immediate object of which will be the collection of such living subjects of the Animal Kingdom as may be introduced and domesticated with advantage in this country.
For this purpose a collection of living animals belonging to the Society will be established in the vicinity of the metropolis; to which the members of the Society will have access as a matter of right, and the public on such conditions as may be hereafter arranged.
It is proposed that the Society shall have a museum, as well as a library of all books connected with the subject ; to which access will be given to the members and the public as above stated.
As it is impossible to attain all the objects of the Society on its first establishment, those of utility will engage its earliest attention, and the more scientific views will be attended to as the means of the Society admit.
The Society will be directed as other public Societies are— by a President, Council, and Officers, and regulated by laws to be established with the concurrence of the members of the Society.
A detailed Prospectus of the objects of this Society having been circulated privately last year, a corrected copy is annexed.
The Terms of Admission to the Society will be Three Pounds, and the Annual Subscription Two Pounds ; or the whole to be compounded for on the usual terms.
A Committee of the following Noblemen and Gentlemen was originally nominated by a meeting of friends of the proposed Society in July last,* and the Prospectus is published under their authority.
* Sir Stamford's name must have been added before his arrival in England he reached Plymouth on August 22, 1824.
14 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Chairman : Sir Stamford Raffles.
Duke of Somerset Earl of Darnley Earl of Egremont Earl of Malmesbury Viscount Gage Bishop of Carlisle Lord Stanley- Sir H. Davy Sir Everard Home E. Barnard, Esq. H. T. Colebrooke, Esq.
Davies Gilbert, Esq. Rev. Dr. Goodenough Thos. Horsfield, Esq., M.D. Rev. W. Kirby T. A. Knight, Esq. T. A. Knight, Jun., Esq. W. Sharp MacLeaj^, Esq. J. Sabine, Esq. N. A. Vigors, Esq. Chas. Baring Wall, Esq.
♦** Noblemen and Gentlemen desirous of becoming Members of this Society are requested to give their names to any Member of the above Committee, or to Mr. Griffiths, at the Royal Institution in Albemarle
Prospectus of a Society for introducing and domesticating New Breeds or Varieties of Animals, such as Quadrupeds, Birds, or Fishes, Hkely to be useful in Common Life ; and for forming a General Collection in Zoology.
Zoology, which exhibits the nature and properties of animated beings, their analogies to each other, the wonderful delicacy of their structure, and the fitness of their organs to the peculiar purposes of their existence, must be regarded not only as an interesting and intellectual study, but as a most important branch of Natural Theology, teaching by the design and wonderful results of organization the wisdom and power of the Creator. In its relation to useful and immediate oeconomical purposes it is no less important. The different races of animals employed in social life, for labour, clothing, food, etc., are the direct objects of its attention ; their improvement, the manner in which their number may be increased, the application of their produce, and its connection with various departments of industry and manufactures, are of the utmost importance to Man, in every stage of his existence, but most so in proportion as he advances in wealth, civilization, and refinement.
It has long been a matter of deep regret to the cultivators of Natural History, that we possess no great scientific establishments either for teaching or elucidating Zoology, and no public menageries or collections of living animals, where their nature, properties, and habits may be studied. In almost every other part of Europe, except in the metropolis of the British empire, something of this kind exists ; but though richer than any other country in the extent and variety of our possessions, and having more facilities from our colonies, our fleets, and our varied and constant intercourse with every quarter of the globe, for collecting specimens and introducing living animals, we have as yet attempted
I
TBE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 15
little, and effected almost nothing ; and the student of Natural History, or the philosopher who wishes to examine animated nature, has no other resource but that of visiting and profiting by the magnificent institu- tions of neighbouring countries.
In the hope of removing this opprobrium to our age and nation, it is proposed to establish a Society bearing the same relation to Zoology that the Horticultural does to Botany, and upon a similar principle and plan. The great object should be, the introduction of new varieties, breeds, and races of animals, for the purpose of domestication, or for stocking our farm-yards, woods, pleasure-grounds, and wastes ; with the establishment of a general Zoological Collection, consisting of prepared specimens in the different classes and orders, so as to afford a correct view of the Animal Kingdom at large in as complete a series as may be practicable, and at the same time point out the analogies between the animals already domesticated and those which are similar in character, upon which the first experiments may be made.
To promote these objects, a piece of ground should be provided in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, affording sufficient accommodation for the above purposes; with a suitable establishment so conducted as to admit of its extension on additional means being afforded.
As it is presumed that a number of persons would feel disposed to encourage an institution of this kind, it is proposed to make the Annual Subscription from each individual only Two Pounds, and the Admission Fee Three Pounds. The Members, of course, will have free and constant access to the Collections and Grounds, and might, at a reasonable price, be furnished with living specimens, or the ova of fishes and birds.*
When it is considered how few amongst the immense variety of animated beings have been hitherto applied to the uses of Man, and that most of those which have been domesticated or subdued belong to the early periods of society, and to the efforts of savage or uncultivated nations, t it is impossible not to hope for many new, brilliant, and useful results in the same field, by the application of the wealth, ingenuity, and varied resources of a civilized people.
* There appears to be no record of fish culture in connection with the Zoological Society or of fish ova being sent to any of the Fellows. Some ponds at Carshalton were visited with a view to renting or purchasing them as a favourable site for experiments of this kind, but the owner, in a letter to the Council in May, 1826, declined further negotiations. From an account of the operation of stripping fish and fecundating the ova, in Sir Humphry Davy's " Salmonia," it seems probable that the plan was due to him ; and he and Sir Stamford RaflEles formed the committee that visited and reported on the Carshalton ponds.
t We owe the peacock and common fowl to the natives of India ; most of our races of cattle, and swans, geese, and ducks, to the aborigines of Europe ; the turkey to the natives of America ; the guinea-fowl to those of Africa. The pike and carp, with some other fishes, were probably introduced by the monks. — Original Note to Circular.
16 TEE ZOOLOGIOAL SOCIETY.
It is well known with respect to most of the Animal Tribes, that domestication is a process which requires time ; that the offspring of wild animals raised in a domestic state are more easily tamed than their parents ; and that in a certain number of generations the effect is made permanent, and connected with a change, not merely in the habits but even in the nature of the animal. The inconveniences of migration may be, in certain cases, prevented, and the wildest animals, when supplied abundantly with food, may lose the instinct of locomotion, and their offspring acquire new habits ; and it is known that a breed, fairly domesticated, is with difficulty brought back to its original state Should the Society flourish and succeed, it will not only be useful in common life, but would likewise promote the best and most extensive objects of the Scientific History of Animated Nature, and offer a collection of living animals such as never yet existed in ancient or modern times* Rome, at the period of her greatest splendour, brought savage monsters from every quarter of the world then known, to be shown in her amphitheatres, to destroy or be destroyed as spectacles of wonder to her citizens. It would well become Britain to offer another, and a very different series of exhibitions to the population of her metropolis ; namely, animals brought from every part of the globe to be applied either to some useful purpose, or as objects of scientific research, not of vulgar admiration. Upon such an institution a philosophy of Zoology may be founded, pointing out the comparative anatomy, the habits of life, the improvement and the methods of multiplying those races of animals which are most useful to man, and thus fixing a most beautiful and important branch of knowledge on the permanent basis of direct utility.
March 1st, 1825.
A few days after the date of this prospectus, Sir Stamford wrote to his cousin, the Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D., of Liverpool, on the subject.
LowEE Geosvenor Street, March 9, 1825. I am much interested at present in establishing a grand zoological collection in the metropolis, with a Society for the introduction of living animals, bearing the same relations to Zoology as a science, that the Horticultural Society does to Botany. The prospectus is drawn out, and when a few copies are printed I will send some to you. We hope to have 2,000 subscribers at £2 each ; and it is further expected we may go far beyond the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. Sir Humphry Davy* and myself are the projectors, and while he looks more to the practical and immediate utility to the country gentlemen, my attention is more directed to the scientific department-!
* This appears conclusive evidence against the view that Sir Stamford EaflSes was the sole founder.
t " Memoir of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles," pp. 592, 693.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 17
In a later letter there is a more raodest estimate of the number of original members, and it was not till 1831 that the Fellowship roll included 2,000 names. The foregoing letter is of considerable interest, as it contains the first known reference by Sir Stamford Raffles to the Jardin des Plantes.
About the end of April Sir Humphry Davy went into the country and left with Sir Stamford Raffles the " list of names in support of the plan for extending our zoological re- searches," so that he might add the names of as many of his friends as were desirous of supporting it. In a letter dated April 28, to Sir R. H. Inglis inviting his co-operation, Sir Stamford wrote :
In the first instance we look mainly to the country gentlemen for support, in point of numbers ; but the character of the institution must of course, depend on the proportion of men of science and sound principles which it contains. I look more to the scientific part, and propose, if it is established on a respectable footing, to transfer to it the collection in natural history which I have brought home with me.*
The only other record for this year consists of the minutes of a meeting " of the original proposers of the Society " at the rooms of the Horticultural Society on June 22. The Earl of Darnley was the Chairman, and a Committee was appointed to further the project. Its constitution was identical with that appointed in July, 1824 (p. 14). Messrs. Drummond were ap- pointed bankers ; and it was resolved that the meeting " be advertised when the number of its members amounted to two hundred."
From this date there appear to be no records till those of the Committee Meeting held on February 26, 1826, for " taking into consideration the plan of the proposed Society." Sir Stamford Raffles was the Chairman, and the other members were the Duke of Somerset, the Earl of Darnlej^ Sir Humphry Davy, Sir Everard Home, Dr. Horsfield, Mr. Davies Gilbert, Mr. Joseph Sabine, and Mr. N. A. Vigors. Lord Auckland, Sir Robert Inglis, and Dr. Harewood were also present, though only as visitors. It was agreed that the official designation of the new body should be " The Zoological Society of London " ; and that an application should be made to the Government for an allotment of ground
: * "Memoir of Sir Thomas Stamford Eaffles, r.R.S.," p. 590. C
18 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
in the Regent's Park suitable to the purposes of the Institution. The task of drawing up a prospectus was entrusted to Sir Stamford Raffles, Mr. Sabine, and Mr. Vigors. It was an instruc- tion to them that, as the objects of the Society must be limited by its means, these should not, in the first instance, extend beyond the introduction and domestication of new breeds of animals, with a Museum and Library to be attached as soon as its resources may admit. They were also to present a report " on the present state and progress of Natural History, especially Zoology, with an account of the institutions by which it is en- couraged on the Continent, and showing the necessity of some similar establishment in this country, so as to place the interests of the science on a footing at least equal to that on which they stand elsewhere."
Another meeting was held on March 4, but little if any- thing was done. On March 17, however, an application was made by Lord Auckland and Sir Stamford Raffles to Mr. Arbuthnot, one of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, for a grant of land from the Crown. This was not the first application for on the previous day they had " visited the piece of ground abutting the Regent's Canal." They expressed the opinion that that piece of nd was " liable to many objections, and that it was possible upon further consideration that the Crown might be induced to let us have ground still more adapted to our pur- pose." A request had evidently been made to them by the Crown Office for some definite information, which is thus conveyed :
Our first plan would be to have a garden laid out in aviaries, paddocks for deer, antelopes, etc., stabularies for such animals as may require them, lodges and perhaps suitable apartments for the Society to meet in ; and, if possible, pieces of water for fish and aquatic birds. Our buildings would for the most part be low, and in no case ofi'ensive, and the plans will be readily submitted to you. As we find support from the public, we should eventually wish to have a museum attached to it whenever our finances admit, and this would of course be on such a scale and plan as would render it ornamental and suitable to the situation.
They asked that, in the first instance, five or six acres in " the centre of the ring marked letter A"^ might be granted to
♦ It is difl&cult to identify the spot thus indicated, for the marked plan has disappeared. But that it was " in the centre of the Eegent's Park " is shown by the oflBcial reply to the application.
!
PLATE II.
THE TERRACE, FROM THE MAIN ENTRANCE.
(See p. 31.)
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 19
the Society about to be formed, and suggested that the whole plot might be reserved for a future grant, as the proposers contemplated the possibiHty of forming
on this advantageous site, so admirably adapted for the purpose, an Estab- lishment which will embrace the united interests of Zoology and Botany. And certainly nothing would be more creditable to the scientific character of the nation, and at the same time more ornamental to the Park itself, than a plan which should provide for the accommodation of the Zoological Department in the centre of the before-mentioned plot, and the appro- priation of the surrounding ground to the purposes of a Botanic Garden.
From this quotation one may see in what characters the new Society was intended to resemble the Jardin des Plantes. As in the older establishment, there was to be a collection of animals in or connected with a botanic garden, and a museum was to be added. But something more than this would be necessary to complete the analogy — endowment for teaching natural history in the wide sense of the term. Had the plan here outlined been realised, the result would have been — not a miniature Jardin des Plantes, but a Garden something like that at Amsterdam or Rotterdam, though without any provision for recreation, in the shape of fetes, concerts, or exhibitions.
Objections were raised by the Crown OiBBce, and on April 7 Lord Auckland, Sir Humphry Davy, and Sir Stamford Raffles applied for " twenty acres in the north-east corner of the Park." In their letter they say " it may be advisable for us to apply to the Crown for such a Charter as may enable us to hold land " ; but in the meantime they ask that a lease may be granted. To show that the Society would not interfere with existing interests, they add: "We are happy to state that Mr. Cross, of Exeter 'Change, has offered his lamas and birds and such part of his collection as we may choose, to the Society, with a tender of his services in promoting our views."
On April 24 invitations to the first General Meeting were sent out. The copy addressed to Yarrell, bearing an autograph note of his "First General Meeting," is still in existence. It runs thus:
SiK,— I have the honour to inform you that a General Meeting of the Friends and Subscribers to the proposed Zoological Society will be held at the Rooms of the Horticultural Society, Regent Street, on Saturday the
20 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
2Qth tnst. next at one o'clock, when the favour of your attendance is requested. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, Grosvenor Street, 24th April, 1826. S. T. Baffles.
Wm, Yarrellf Esq.y etc. etc.
The words in italics are in Sir Stamford's handwriting, showing that the date was not fixed when the circulars were printed, nor was the arrangement with the Horticultural Society announced till the Committee Meeting of April 28. Then it was also reported that the prospectus " had been printed and circulated among persons likely to favour the interests of the Society." No copy of this document is known at the Society's offices. But that it was practically identical with the issue of March 1, 1825, seems clear from the fact that the principal resolutions drafted at this meeting, and proposed and carried at the General Meeting on the following day, were intended to give effect to the ideas therein set forth. The Keport asked for in February (see p. 18) does not appear to have been presented, if indeed it was drawn up. At this April Committee Meeting Sir Stamford Raffles announced that he had " engaged an office at No. 4, Regent Street, for the transaction of the affairs of the Society."
The first General Meeting was held at the House of the Horticultural Society, Regent Street, on April 29, and about a hundred persons were present, but only Sir Stamford Raffles, Lord Lansdowne, and the Lord Mayor are mentioned, the rest being covered by an " etc." Sir Stamford was called to the chair, on the motion of Sir Humphry Davy ; and, after some formal business, the following resolutions were proposed by the Chairman and carried unanimously:
I. That a Society to be designated the " Zoological Society " be instituted for the advancement of zoological knowledge.
II. That the attention of the Society be directed to the following objects : The formation of a collection of living animals ; a museum of preserved animals, with a collection of comparative anatomy ; and a library connected with the subject.
HI. That the Society shall consist of such members as have already subscribed their names as desirous of joining the Society, or who shall do so on or before the 1st of January next, with the approbation of the Council and of such other members as shall subsequently be admitted by ballot.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
21
IV. That the funds of the Society shall consist of the admission fees and annual contributions of the Members, together with such donations as may be received in furtherance of the objects of the Society.
V. That the affairs of the Society shall be directed by a President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Council, the officers being members of the Council.
VI. That the Council shall consist of eighteen Members, exclusive of the officers, and five shall be a quorum.
VII. That the President shall nominate Vice-Presidents from the Council.
VIII. That the President of the Royal Society, the Presidents of the Linnean and Horticultural Societies, and the Presidents of the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons for the time being shall be ex officio members of the Society.*
IX. That the Council shall have the management of the Society during the first year, at the end of which, or sooner, they shall submit to the Members detailed regulations for the government of the Society.
X. The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall form a Standing Committee for the charge of the collections and for receiving such presents as may be made to the Society.
XI. That committees shall be appointed from time to time for the superintendence and direction of the different departments of the Society's establishment.
XII. That the property and effects of the Society shall be vested in three or more Trustees.
XIII. That Members admitted on or before the 1st of January next shall be considered as original members, and shall pay for admission fee and subscription for the present year the sum of five pounds, and two pounds annually, coinmencing in January, 1827, or the sum of £25 as a. donation. t
Sir Stamford Raffles was elected President by acclamation, and the following noblemen and gentlemen were chosen to serve on the Council : the Duke of Somerset, the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Earl of Darnley, the Earl of Egremont, Viscount Gage, Lord Auckland, Lord Stanley (afterwards thirteenth Earl of Derhy), Sir Humphry Davy, Sir Everard Home, Rev. Dr. Goodenough, Dr. Thomas Horsfield (Assistant Secretary), and Messrs. Edward Barnard, J. E. Bicheno, J. G. Children,
* From the draft submitted and approved at the Committee Meeting of April 28 it appears that the first intention was to make these honorary members also members of Council. The list has since been increased, and now includes in addition to those given above : The Presidents of the Geological and Royal Botanic Societies, the Royal Institution and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Principal of the Royal Veterinary College, and the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company.
t This was a composition fee for life-membership.
22 TEE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
H. T. Colebrooke, G. B. Greenliougli, Joseph Sabine (Treasurer), Charles Stokes, N. A. Vigors (Secretary), and Charles Baring Wall, M.P.
It is recorded in the minutes that " the President then proceeded to read an opening address to the Society, in which he took a review of the past and present state of zoology in this country, and entered into a detail of the objects and plans of the Society." It seems probable that this address was never printed, and that the manuscript has been lost. There is no reference to it in Lady Raffles's " Memoir," and the late Rev. R. Blanchard Raffles, who made a special study of the early history of the Society, was unable to trace it. Mr. Demetrius C. Boulger, his literary executor, who summarised his results in the Athenceum (March 4, 18, 1905), says, " No copy of Sir Stamford's address has yet been found." It is, perhaps, unnecessary to add that nothing is known of it at the Society's offices.
The tone of the following extract from the Literary Gazette (May 26, 1826, p. 282) leaves a good deal to be desired, but the paragraph is important, for it contains independent evidence of the existence of a manuscript. It may be noted that the point to which the writer gives prominence is that attributed to Sir Humphry Davy* — the introduction and domestication of new forms :
Zoological, oe Noah's Ark Society. A public meeting took place on Saturday last (April 29) at the rooms of the Horticultural Society, at which about a hundred persons were present. Sir Stamford Raffles was called to the chair, and read an address recommend- ing the formation of a society the object of which should be to import new birds, beasts and fishes into this country from foreign parts. The Regent's Park is to be headquarters ; though if the subscriptions amount to a sufficient sum, it is hoped that strange reptiles may be propagated all over the kingdom. But there is neither wisdom nor folly new under the sun. Worthy Dr. Plot informs us in his History of Oxfordshire that King Henry the First enclosed the park at Wvdestoc " with a wall, though not for deer^ but all foreign wild beasts^ such as lions, leopards, camels, linx's, which he procured abroad of other princes ; amongst which more particularly, says William of Malmeshury, he kept a porcupine hispidis setis coopertam, quas in canes insectantes naturaliter emittunt, i.e. covered over with sharp-pointed quills, which they naturally shoot at the dogs that hunt them." This is the first British National Menagerie that we have read of : the Romans
* See Note from " Collected Works of Sir H. Davy," on p. 24.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 23
were much addicted to wild beast shows. Considering the advanced state of knowledge, it is to be expected that the new Zoological Association will beat both the Romans and King Henry, in spite of his porcupine ; though we do not know how the inhabitants of the Regent's Park will like the lions, leopards, and linxes so near their neighbourhood.
The Gazette afterwards became quite sympathetic.
On May 5, Committees were appointed (1) to frame bye-laws,
(2) to acquire a site for breeding fishes and rearing waterfowl,
(3) to manage the grounds in Regent's Park, (4) the Menagerie, (5) the Museum, and (6) to form a library. On the first four the President had a seat. The first animals to come into the possession of the Society were a griffon vulture and a white-headed eagle, presented by Mr. Joshua Brookes, of the celebrated Anatomical School in Blenheim Street ; and " a female deer from Sanger," the gift of Captain Pearl. This vulture was known to the older keepers as " Dr. Brookes," and must have lived in the Menagerie for nearly forty years. In 1869 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, writing in the Field (May 5), referred to it as having " died recently." At this time no keepers were engaged ; and arrangements were made with those at the Tower and Exeter 'Change " for taking charge of such animals as may come into the possession of the Society till their own establishment is completed."
In May four Vice-Presidents (Lord Auckland, the Earl of Darnley, the Marquess of Lansdowne, and the Duke of Somerset) were appointed. A month later, No. 33, Bruton Street was taken for offices and a Museum, and here some animals were kept till the Gardens were opened. Then, of course, most of them were transferred to Regent's Park ; but for some time afterwards the house was used for such species as needed special care. At the end of June the plans of Decimus Burton for the Gardens were approved ; the sum of £5,000 was appropriated for carrying them into execution, and £1,000 for the Museum. Cross offered his services for the management of the Menagerie, at the same time proposing that the Society should purchase his collection, but the suggestion was not favourably considered.
The death of Sir Stamford Rafiles from apoplexy took place at Highwood, Hendon, on July 6. At the Council meeting two days later the Duke of Somerset, who presided, announced that the Members " had been summoned in consequence of the
24 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
sudden and lamented death of their President." In the words of the minute :
His Grace suggested that under the present depressing circumstances, and at this unfavourable season of the year, it would be inexpedient to take any steps to fill up the vacancy that has occurred with so great a loss to the Society, and proposed that the Vice-Presidents who may be in town during the summer months be requested to superintend the execution of the plans already commenced under the direction of their late President.
The Society published no other obituary notice. Sir Humphry Davy, in his capacity of President of the Royal Society, of which Sir Stamford was a Fellow, furnished a short biography of his friend and fellow-worker, of which the following paragraph forms part:
Having lost one splendid collection by fire* he instantly commenced the formation of another ; and having brought this to Europe, he made it not private, but public property, and placed it entirely at the disposal of a New Association t for the promotion of zoology, of which he had been chosen President by acclamation.
Little beyond draining and planting was done this year in the grounds in the Park ; but work was actively carried on at the Museum in Bruton Street. Addressing the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society on November 29, Mr. Bicheno said :
The Zoological Society, recently instituted in London, contemplates a more practical cultivation of science than any other which exists. They not only meditate the establishment of a museum, which has already been enriched by the private collection of Mr. Vigors and the Sumatran collection of the late Sir Stamford Raffles ; but every exertion will also be made to obtain an osteological collection, and in the end to establish a Menagerie, Aviary, and Piscina. Every lover of Natural History will rejoice to hear that their Museum will be open to the public in the ensuing spring.
At the close of the year there were 342 members, whose sub- scriptions, with those received in 1825, amounted to £1,829, and the expenditure was £679.
* The vessel in which Sir Stamford Raffles embarked for England in 1824 took fire when fifty miles out from Sumatra. The passengers and crew escaped in the "boats, but Sir Stamford's natural history collections and living animals were burnt.
t The Zoological Society : of this association the author [i.e. Sir H. Davy] was one of the warmest promoters ; he was concerned in forming the plan on which it was established, and the first address to the public, announcing it and soliciting support for it, was from his pen. — " Collected Works of Sir H. Davy," vii. 91 Editor's Note.
I
Llama House, 1829. (See 11. 37.)
Courtyard. (See p. 37.)
Pelicans' Enclosure. (See p. 41.) From the " Zoological Keepsake."
Plate 5.
25
CHAPTER II.
1827—1830.
These four years constituted a period of preparation for the scientific^ work of the Societj^, and witnessed the formation of the Museum, the laying out and opening of the Garden — for at first there was but one — and the experiment of a breeding farm.
The first important business was the election of a new Presi- dent : the Marquess of Lansdowne was chosen, and held office till he retired in 1831. At the same meeting Dr. Rafiles was elected into the Council. Ladies were declared eligible for mem- bership ; and it was resolved that those who were proposed by any member of the Council " should be admitted to the Society on the same terms and with the same privileges as Gentlemen Subscribers." At the same time it was determined to elect Corresponding Members to further the objects of the Society in foreign parts or in the provinces, and fifteen were chosen, among whom was Captain G. F. Lyon, the commander of the Hecla in the expedition under Captain W. E. Parry for the discovery of a North-west passage.
Thanks to Yarrell's methodical habits, one of the first circulars of instructions to Corresponding Members has been preserved ; it is worth quoting to show what was expected from those on whom the honour was conferred :
* This epithet is employed in a wide sense, so as to include bionomical work of all kinds on farm and menagerie stock as well as in the laboratory. Had the early practice of the Society been continuously carried out, Regent's Park might have claimed to be free from Professor Ray Lankester's reproach {Ency. Brit, xxiv, 817) that the science of Zoological Gardens is that of the morphographer and systematist rather than of the bionomist— of the worker on dead structure and the cataloguer and classifier, rather than of the student of living animals who seeks to correlate them, and fit each into its appropriate niche in the scheme of things.
S6 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Zoological Society, 33, Bruton Street, 1827.
Sir,— I take the liberty, with the sanction of of sending to you the last report* of the Zoological Society.
It is possible that, in the course of your residence at opportunities of promoting our views and objects may occur to you, and that you may be able to send to us occasionally, and at a very inconsider- able expense, specimens of subjects in Zoology of much curiosity and interest.
Living specimens of all rare animals, and particularly of such as may possibly be domesticated and become useful here, will be much valued by us ; and above all varieties of the Deer kind, and of gallinaceous Birds ; but beyond this preserved insects, reptiles, birds, mammalia, fishes, eggs, and shells will be gratefully received.
And I may mention that where a more scientific method does not occur, the promiscuous immersion of any number of subjects in a tub of strong brine (feathers, bodies, and all) will be sufficient for preservation, not quite effectual perhaps for the skins in all instances, but perfectly so for purposes of j dissection and comparative anatomy.
Then followed a paragraph on the necessity of confining expenses within the narrowest limits, and the advisability of consulting the authorities at home before incurring any considerable charge. Practical directions for preserving animals, skins, skeletons, and fossils, and packing specimens of all kinds, were also sent to collectors abroad.
The circular, dated on the day of the new President's election, is important, in that it negatives the idea that the foundation was the work of any one individual. It opens with the state- ment that
This Society was instituted in 1826 under the auspices of Sir T. Stam- ford Baffles, Sir Humphry Davy, Bart., and other eminent individuals, for the advancement of Zoology, and the introduction and exhibition of subjects of the Animal Kingdom alive or in a state of preservation.
The public were informed that the Gardens in Kegent's Park had been pegged out, and that workmen were actively employed upon them. Those interested in the project were invited to inspect the plans and drawings at Bruton Street, and the hope was expressed that the Gardens would be opened in the course of the summer.
* The first Report printed appears to be that presented by the Council to the General Meeting held April 29, 1829. Yarrell's copy, now in the possession of the Society, bears on the title the word" First " in his handwriting.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 27
On April 24 Lady Raffles transferred Sir Stamford's Sumatran collection to the Society's Museum, stipulating that every subject should be distinguished by a particular mark, and that a separate catalogue should be printed. The property was to remain vested in the representatives of the late President, and in the event of any breach in the Society to revert to the family. Thereupon Lady Raffles was elected an Honorary Member — the only lady who has received that distinction.
The Anniversary Meeting was held on May 19 at the Rooms of the Horticultural Society. According to the Gentleman's Magazine (1827, i. 443) it was very numerously attended, and among those present were Earl Spencer, the Earls of Malmesbury and Carnarvon, Lord Auckland, the Marquis of Carmarthen, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Sir Everard Home, Sir Robert Heron, M.P., Sir John de Beauvoir, and Mr. Baring Wall, M.P. The President announced that the works in the Regent's Park were rapidly advancing ; the walks were laid out and partly made, and pheasantries and aviaries, with sheds and enclosures for some of the rarer animals, in active progress. The number of subscribers exceeded 500 and was daily increasing, and "it was expected that the gardens would possess sufficient interest to authorise the opening of them during the ensuing autumn."
At this time there were no scientific meetings, but the monthly business meetings gradually assumed something of that character. Donations to the Museum were exhibited and briefly described ; and the following extract shows that formal com- munications might be made, though the Society as yet possessed no organ for publication :
June 22, 1827. — This evening C. B[onaparte] called with some gentlemen, among whom were Messrs. Vigors, Children, Featherstone- haugh, and Lord Clifton. My portfolios were opened before the set of learned men, and they saw many birds they had not dreamed of. Charles offered to name them for me, and I felt happy that he should ; and with a pencil he actually christened upwards of fifty, urging me to publish them at once in manuscript at the Zoological Society.*
In July the plan of Decimus Burton was lithographed for distribution. This showed the proposed arrangement of the ground, and the style and location of the different houses, sheds,
* "Audubon and his Journals," i. 257.
28
THE ZOOLOOIOAL SOCIETY.
aviaries, etc. Few copies can be traced now ; but, fortunately, it was reproduced in the Literary Gazette with some descriptive text, and the editorial remark that "it may be a subject of interest to look back to the infant state of this establishment at a future day, when it shall have attained that extent and import- ance, suited to the scientific views of the nation that supports it, which is now sanguinely, and with good grounds, anticipated."
UBLIC DRIVE ROUN&°''^'THEREGENT'S PARK
DECIMUS BURTON'S PLAN OF THE GROUND,
This is a pleasant contrast to the paragraph quoted from the same source on pp. 22, 23.
Then the larger animals had been removed from Bruton Street to the Park. Some monkeys, however, remained, and of one kept in the office the clerk reported that it had par- tially destroyed a book of vouchers, which had occasioned a deficiency. That monkey was unjustly blamed, but its character was eventually cleared.^
* While these pages were passing through the press this fiction was paralleled hy the destruction of some scrip hy a monkey in the Bank of France. About the same time it was stated in evidence before the Koyal Commission to enquire into the contracts, sales, and refunds to contractors in South Africa, that the auditors vere unable to obtain some important documents on account of their destruction by rats.
Repository. (Seep.ii.)
Rabbits and Armadillos. (Seep. 40.)
Zoological Gardens, Regents Park. (Seep. 55.) From the " Penny Magazine," December 16, 1837.
Polar Bear. (See p. 39.) From the "Mirror," 1832.
Monkey and Pole. (See p. 39.)
Plate 6.
lit
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 29
One would like to know if tliis were the monkey described by Broderip in his "Zoological Recreations."
There was one [Wanderoo monkey] in the Zoological Society's col- jection, then in its infancy, in Bruton Street, and a right merry fellow was he. He would run up his pole and throw himself over the crossbar, so as to swing backwards and forwards as he hung suspended by the chain which held the leather strap that girt his loins. The expression of his countenance was peculiarly innocent ; but he was sly, very sly, and not to be approached with impunity by those who valued their headgear. He would sit demurely on his cross-perch, pretending to look another way, or to examine a nut-shell for some remnants of kernel, till a proper victim came within his reach ; when down the pole he rushed, and up he was again in the twinkling of an eye, leaving the bareheaded surprised one minus his hat, at least, which he had the satisfaction of seeing under- going a variety of metamorphoses under the plastic hands of the grinning ravisher. ... It was whispered — horrescimus referentes — that he once scalped a bishop, who ventured too near, notwithstanding the caution given to his lordship by another dignitary of the Church, and that it was some time before he could be made to give up, with much mowing and chattering, the well-powdered wig which he had transferred from the sacred poll to his own.
In Children's address to the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society on November 29, 1827, he announced that arrangements were being made for the transfer to the Zoological Society of the lake and its islands near Regent's Park^ for the breeding, rearing, and preserving of waterfowl, and of a plot of ground on which to erect suitable offices and farmyards for breeding and domesti- cating poultry. The right of entry to the walks and ornamental grounds on the west side of the Park was accorded to the Mem- bers about this time, and these were referred to as " privileges of essential importance to the Society, and gratifying proofs of the interest that His Majesty's Government takes in its welfare."
From the same source we learn that in the Menagerie and Gardens (not yet open to the public) nearly two hundred living animals were exhibited in suitable paddocks, dens, and aviaries ; " as two beautiful llamas, a leopard, kangaroos, a Russian bear, ratel, ichneumons, &c., (fee, besides a pair of emus, cranes, gulls, gannets, corvorants, various gallinaceous birds, and many others." Of course, the Members had free access to the grounds, as they had to the Museum, with the privilege of introducing two friends.
* The large lake, near the grounds of the Royal Botanic Society.
30 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Another interesting event was referred to in this address — the recent gift by Mohammed Ali to George IV. of a young Nubian giraffe, the first example of the species brought alive to England. The merchant vessel conveying the giraffe and the cows which provided it with milk arrived at the wharf by Waterloo Bridge on Saturday, August 11, 1827, and the animals were at once stabled in a warehouse under the Duchy of Lancaster office. Here they remained in charge of the native keepers till Monday, when Mr. Cross took them to Windsor in a caravan, and the giraffe was lodged in a commodious hut, with the range of a spacious paddock at the Sandpit Gate. It was then about a year and a half old, and stood 10 ft. 8 in. high."^
In the Literary Gazette (December 1, 1827) R. B. Davis, who had many opportunities of closely observing the animal while painting its portrait for George IV., described its limbs as deformed by the treatment it had experienced at the hands of the Arabs on the overland journey from Sennaar to Cairo. It was occasionally confined on the back of a camel ; and when " they huddled it together for this purpose they were not nice in the choice of cords or the mode of applying them." f While the artist was at work he observed that the giraffe still bore the marks of what it must have suffered, though it was improving in form and the joints were losing their disproportion to the limbs. It was probably at this time that he noticed there were " no teeth or nippers in the upper jaw," and that the two outside ones [in the lower jaw] were " divided to the socket." This division or lobation attracted no attention from naturalists till its rediscovery by Prof. Ray Lankester, who used it in proof of the relationship of the giraffe to the okapi,t in which the teeth are similarly lobed.
Although formal possession of the lake was not given to the
* The Literary Gazette of August 25, 1827, from which these particulars are taken, has this note : In 1810 a white camel was imported, with an elephant, into this country. This white camel being a novelty, the proprietor, then living in Piccadilly, turned his attention to making it still more of a novelty, caused it to be artificially spotted, and produced it to the public as " a camelopard just arrived."
t This seems to have been the normal mode of transport adopted by the Arabs at that time. The giraffes obtained by Warwick for the Surrey Gardens were treated in a similar way.
X Tramaetiona of the Zoological Society, xvi. 290.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 31
Society by the Crown Office till April, 1828, it was stocked before this time ; for the first sheet of " Occurrences " received at No. 33, Bruton Street, on February 25, contained a reference to it among other particulars :
Menagerie. — Received eleven wild ducks from the Lake, caught for the purpose of pinioning, and then to be returned.
Received six silver-haired rabbits from Mr. Blake.
Otter died, in consequence of a diseased tail.
Emu laid her fourth egg on the 24th.
All animals and birds well. Works.— Pit for bear, house for llamas in progress.
Boundary wall for supporting the bank next the bear's pit begun. Servants. —All on duty. No. OF Visitors.— Four. Particular Visitor.— Lord Auckland.
Since that time a similar sheet, recording the principal events of the preceding day, signed by the chief officer at the Gardens, has been sent every morning to the office, where these are preserved in yearly volumes. A duplicate set is kept at the Superintendent's office at the Gardens. With the growth of the establishment the form has been somewhat varied to allow of other details and fuller particulars being given, such as the various occupations of the workmen, the amount of money taken, the weather, temperature of the houses, etc.
Mr. Edward Amend Johnson was appointed Superintendent and Assistant Secretary on April 27, and the Gardens were opened to the public on payment. The resolution of the Council on this subject was to the effect that " Strangers be admitted to the Gardens by the written Order of a Fellow on payment of Is. each, the holder of such order or ticket to be allowed to intro- duce any number of companions at Is. each." As will be seen from the Order reproduced on the next page, only Fellows were admitted to the Gardens or Museum on Sundays.
This is the earliest form of the ticket known, but the Fellow who signed it did not join the Society till February, 1829.
The visitor entering the Garden on that April morning, from the Public Drive, as the Outer Circle was then called, would pass a rustic lodge, on the spot now occupied by the Main Entrance. Part of the Terrace was laid out, and the bear pit built, as was the llama house on the left. To the right of the Terrace was
32 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
pasture land, and the boundary ran in a direct line from the western side of the bear pit to the opposite hedge, the intention at first being to continue the Terrace right across. On the left walks were made, and some ponds for waterfowl constructed, while a good many movable dens and cages were dotted about on the green turf.
No detailed description of the condition of the Garden as a whole has come down to us ; but an official circular of April 29, 1828, speaks of it as " in considerable forwardness " and for some
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
ADMIT AND PARTY,
TO THE GARDENS^ REG^XVT'S PARK^
BY ORDER OF
'^n/
ADMIT AND PARTY.
TO THE MUS^UM^ 33^ BRUTpN STREET^
BY ORDER OF ^
Extract FROM REG^?ATT&Ns—'i^angers may be aJmitted either to the Gardens
or Museum, by Orders from Fellows, upon payment of Is. by each Person."
No Admission, except to Fellows, on Sundays.
Catalogues of the Museum and Menagerie may be obtained at the respective
Establishments.
time open to Members. It then contained " a number of living animals disposed in suitable dens, aviaries, and paddocks," but there is no classified list.
Not till July, however, were the plans for the houses pre- pared, and still later were those for buildings on the north side approved by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. As a provision for tender animals during the winter a stable and room adjoinmg in Park Street were taken, so that they might be removed thither from the Gardens. From an entry in the minutes it appears that the Council were fully alive to their re- sponsibilities, for at the meeting of November 19 it was ordered " that an inquiry be made after a small farm or land in the vicinity of London, to be used as a breeding place."
Beaver Pond and Falcons' Aviary. (See p. :59.
Aviary. (See p. 39.)
Plate 7.
Cattle Sheds and Yards. {See p. 40.) From the "Zoological Keepsake.^'
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33
The opening of the Garden caused some excitement. In the Swainson Correspondence, now in the possession of the Linnean Society, there is a letter, dated December 1, from Barron Field, Advocate-Fiscal of Ceylon, afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Corresponding Member of the Society, in which Yigors's share in the work is thus referred to :
It must be very gratifying to see the March of Zoology in England. The popularity of the science is greatly indebted to Vigors and his lucky hit of the Regent's Park Menagerie.
Dr. Horsfield resigned the Vice-Secretaryship, and was suc- ceeded in that office by Mr. E. T. Bennett ; and John Gould's connection with the Society began this year by his appointment as Curator and Preserver to the Museum, now so well stocked as to warrant the issue of a catalogue of the mammalia. This was arranged on the Quinarian system, a fact not to be wondered at considering the important part Vigors played in the early history of the Society."^ There were 450 specimens, the bulk of them belonging to the Rafflesian collection, but Captain Parry, Captain (afterwards Sir John) Franklin, and Dr. (afterwards Sir John) Richardson were also donors. In the Museum were exhibited the panda or bear cat, discovered by General Hardwicke ; the fennec or long-eared fox, which effectually vindicated the accuracy of Bruce, that had been impugned by some French naturalists ; and the clouded tiger, made known to science by Sir Stamford Raffles, the specimen he had brought alive to England, which was exhibited at Exeter 'Change.
The first printed list of Members was issued in January, 1829, and contains the names of 1,294 Ordinary, 8 Honorary, and 37 Corresponding Members. In his Jubilee Address Sir William Flower referred to it as interesting from the number of names it includes of persons eminent in science, art, literature, or social life. '* Indeed," he said, " there were not many people of distinc- tion in the country at that time who are not to be found in it."
This year saw the first publication of the Council's Report, on the occasion of the Anniversary Meeting on April 29. It
* An interesting account of the Quinarian system and the men who advocated it will be found in the Introduction to Professor Newton's "Dictionary of Birds," pp. 32-35. D
k
84 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
contained the announcement of the grant of a Charter, and the text of the document is given. The objects of the Society are therein defined as " the advancement of Zoology and Animal Physiology * and the introduction of new and curious subjects of the Animal Kingdom." t The Marquess of Lansdowne, Joseph Sabine, and Nicholas Ay 1 ward Vigors were confirmed in their respective offices of President, Treasurer, and Secretary till April 29, 1829, which date, or as near thereto as conveniently might be, was fixed for the Annual Meeting in successive years. From this period the Members became Fellows. The Council ap- pointed Mr. Rees Assistant Secretary, and Mr. Alexander Miller replaced Mr. E. A. Johnson as Superintendent of the Gardens.
Cross renewed his application to the Council that they should purchase his animals, and though an offer for part of them was made it was not accepted by the owner, who wanted to dispose of the whole. Barron Field wrote to Swainson on January 21 that Cross had received notice to quit Exeter 'Change in a month, "so that he must come down to the terms of the Zoological Society, and thus will be made a great addition to their menagerie." Cross, however, did not agree; and the negotiations came to an end. If one may judge from the Address to the Reader prefixed to his " Companion to the Royal Menagerie," published in 1820, Cross took himself very seriously,. and, of course, had great experience with animals in confinement. He was, however, essentially a "showman," and even if the arrangement had been brought about it may be doubted if he would have been a good manager for an establishment where the presence of the general public was suffered rather than encouraged.
A good deal was written about the sj^stem of requiring visitors, not personally introduced, to obtain an order from a Fellow as a condition of admittance on payment. In a curious
* The study of the living organism, though, from the nature of the case, without reference to its hearing on evolution.
t As was pointed out hy Sir "William Flower in his Juhilee Address, this meant not only the temporary introduction of individuals for the purpose of satisfying curiosity about their external characters and structure, but also the permanent domestication of foreign animals which might become of value to man, either for their utility in adding to our food supplies or for the pleasure they afford by their beauty.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35
little book,"^ somewhat of the Sandford-and-Merton type, the matter was thus discussed between Mr. Dartmouth, a Fellow, and some of his sister's children, who visit the Garden with him. Said one of the children:
The necessity that Strangers must either be introduced by Members, or else provided with their orders, or with their tickets, is productive, I should think, of some inconveniences 1
Taking advantage of this opening, Mr. Dartmouth replied:
It certainly is so ; but upon the whole the restriction is probably beneficial. Besides, few of the persons who are proper visitors can have much difficulty in finding Members willing to oblige them.
It is evidently proper, that in the admission of Strangers, some degree of system should be observed, especially at the Garden, for the sake, both of preventing mischief and injury to the Animals, and to the Garden itself, and of contributing, in some degree, to save the Visitors themselves from the accidents that sometimes attend exhibitions of wild beasts of prey. The vulgar are too fond of irritating the fiercer animals and of teasing and hurting those which are gentle ; and both vulgar and others are often exceedingly rash in introducing their hands into the dens and enclosures, or careless in placing themselves so near the bars, as to defeat the effect of every precaution for their safety. Upon the first subject, as you know, we have had to caution George ; and I believe both George and Jane are indebted to some risks which they have run for the respectful distance which they now keep. Only the other day, too, as we saw, one of the Wolves, though so well guarded in the kennel, bit the arm of a little boy that had taken much pains to introduce it through the bars. You see, therefore, that caution is needful ; and, perhaps, even in this view alone, it is proper that the admission should not be indiscriminate. The necessity for orders almost prevents young people from coming without some superintendence.
The " thick ungrateful clay " of the Park was found to be the cause of increased expense in the construction of houses. Consideration for the health of the animals necessitated oak floors, and a thick layer of dry material had to be deposited under enclosures and walks. These disadvantages, however, were considered " amply counterbalanced by the vicinity of the
* " The Zoological Keepsake ; or, Zoology and the Garden and Museum of the Zoological Society for the year 1830." London : Marsh and Miller. No author's name is given, and the Editor's Preface is signed M*. It is stated in a note on p. 45 that the Editor contributed " Critical Accounts of South American Camels " to the Colonial Journal (1817, 1818) ; but examination of that short-lived Quarterly throws no light on the authorship.
36 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY,
site to town." Flower-beds were laid out, and the Horticul- tural Society was very liberal in sending supplies for this purpose. An account of the stock puts the number of species and varieties belonging to the Society at 194, of which G9 were "quadrupeds," i.e. mammals, and 125 birds; there were 152 examples of the mammalian and 475 of the avian species, so that the collection consisted of 627 animals, of which the larger portion was in the Garden. There were few that would be considered rare at the present day, but some of the "larger and stronger quadrupeds" were promised as soon as dens and enclosures could be prepared for them.
In March the first Guide was drawn up, at the request of the Council, by Vigors and Broderip, and the style of the latter is clearly perceptible. The following passage, describing the raccoon, certainly did not come from Vigors's pen :
Strange stories are told of its fishing for crabs with its tail, and opening oysters with its feet ; and Pennant says " that it loves strong liquors, and will get excessively drunk."* It seems to be attached to good cheer in general, from " 'Possum up a gum tree " t to sugar cane, and appears to have a penchant for turtle ; for our friend here, who is extremely amiable, playful and caressing, was admitted one day into a room with a land tortoise, which he no sooner saw than he flew at it with the zeal of an alderman.
This was edited and added to before publication. Several editions appeared, the last being probably that of October. The title runs thus : List | of | The Animals | in | The Garden | of the I Zoological Society | With Notices Kespecting Them : | and I A Plan of the Garden | Showing the Buildings, Enclosures and Places in which | the Animals are kept | October 31st, 1829. I Seventh Publication. | From this one may get a fairly good idea of the GardenJ and Menagerie stock, especially if the plan be compared with Plate 3.
Fellows signed their names in a book kept in the lodge (1)
* " Arctic Zoology," p. 69. (This note and the next are from the Guide.) f See — or rather hear | the Carmen Zoologicum of the egregious Matthews : 'Possum up a gum tree, Raccoon in a hollow, Catch him by him long tail ! How him whoop and halloo 1 ! X At first the singular form was correct, for only a portion of what is now the South Garden was opened. When the tunnel was made and the North (now the Middle) Garden laid out and stocked, the plural form was used.
1
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 37
on the right ; persons provided with an order paid one shilling each at the lodge on the left, receiving in return a check whicK was given up at the central lodge a little farther on. There were three bears in the pit (3) at the end of the Terrace (2); and where the " bear bar " now stands was a rustic seat, in which a person was permitted to attend during the hours of exhibition " for the sale of cakes, fruits, nuts, and other articles, which the visitors may be disposed to give to the different animals." Below the Terrace on the left was the waterfowls' lawn (6) with a pond and fountain. In this enclosure were kept a shag, black-billed whistling ducks,^ mallard (taken in the Society's decoy on the Lake in the Park), pintail, wigeon, pochard, and greater and lesser black-backed, herring, and common gulls. The crowned cranes and other wading birds from the large aviaries (,S3), approximately on the site of the Eastern Aviary, were turned into this enclosure during the day. In the llama house (5), now the camel house, were two llamas, and behind, there stood, as it stands to-day, an open-air aviary (7), then used for the blue-and-yellow and red-and-blue macaws, and greater and lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos. North of the llama house was a court yard (8) with iron cages, in which were a hybrid between a jackal and a dog, a pair of cinnamon bears, European and American bears, Cuban mastiffs, dingos, and a sable. Under the Terrace were some chambers, in which an American tapir and an ostrich were kept. Adjoin- ing, but nearer the Park boundary, was a yard (9) with three divisions; in one was a reindeer, and in the others some great kangaroos. In front of this were enclosures (10) accommodating a couple of sambur, one of which came from Windsor, and had been hunted by the Royal buckhounds, an American fallow- deer, and a nylghaie. Still nearer what is now the South Entrance was a temporary building (12) with three leopards, a jaguar, a lion cub, two striped hyaena cubs, a black buck, a pair of ocelots, an African civet cat, a Tibet bear, three coatimondis, Virginian opossums, guinea-pigs, agoutis, a ratel, a couple of genets, common, fasciculated and Canada porcupines, some
* This anticipates the notice in the Hon. Rose Hubbard's " Ornamental Water- fowl" (ed. 1888, p. 92) that the species had been "an inhabitant of the Zoological Gardens since 1831."
w— ^—H •w— 0>rt nl yfV-i_; ni :r -:-.-^>-, ■<■*
i i
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39
ichneumons, and an Indian civet cat. In cages at the end of the room were kept a condor, a harpy eagle, and a Chilian eagle. Beyond this was a turfed piece, then came the carpenters' yard (14) ; on the east side were the dog and fox cages, containing Esquimaux, wolf, Hare Indian, and Chinese black- mouthed dogs ; common, cross, black, and American foxes ; and raccoons.
On the lawn in front of the llama house, and opposite the deer enclosures were the dens for large quadrupeds (11), tenanted by a pair of leopards, a Cape lion, a striped and a spotted hysena, a young tigress, a puma and leopard in the same cage, two cheetahs, two sloth bears, and a polar bear. Near this was a shed (13) with enclosures for goats. In the farther angle (on the plot behind the diving birds' house) were the sties for peccaries (16), of which the collared and white-lipped species were exhibited; westward were some movable aviaries (17) with gold, silver, and ring-necked pheasants, partridges, red-legs, and black- cock. Later this was called Monkey Green, from the monkey poles (18), to which certain species were fastened during the day in favourable weather. In front were the otter pond (19) and a paddock for tortoises, of which four species were exhibited, and on the west of the poles was a wirework cage containing a bearded vulture.
In the monkey house (20), with open-front cages on the site of the present eagles' aviary, were an agile gibbon, mangabeys, patas, green, mona, and lesser white-nosed guenons, wanderoos, rhesus, bonnet and pigtail macaques, a black ape, a Barbary ape, baboons (not to be identified), a young mandrill, and some drills. What is now the otter pond was then the beaver enclosure (21), and the old kites' cages (22) contained kites, peregrines, a moor buzzard, a honey buzzard, even then "not of frequent occurrence," common buzzards, an unidentified South African eagle, and Egyptian vultures. The aviary " for small and middle- sized birds" (23) is still standing, but is used as the civets' house. Part of it was devoted to British species — the hooded crow, jackdaw, magpie, starling, missel thrush, thrush, blackbird, haw- finch, greenfinch, chaffinch, tree sparrow, linnet, lesser redpoll, goldfinch, redbreast, woodlark, bearded titmouse, yellowhammer, cuckoo, little bittern, sparrowhawk, kestrel, hobby, short-eared
40 THE ZOOLOOIOAL SOCIETY.
and little owls, and a hybrid between the turtle-dove and domestic pigeon, of which, unfortunately, there is no history. The exotic birds consisted of the crested partridge, Chinese starling, the parrot fruit-pigeon (of which very few examples have been exhibited since), and the St. Domingo falcon, now called the American sparrowhawk.
In front was a large pond (24), on which w^ere summer ducks, shovellers, tufted ducks, gadwall, teal, garganey, lapwings, ruffs, a night heron, coot, and black-headed gulls. In their printed draft Vigors and Broderip mention the fact that carp were bred here in 1828, adding:
When some of the more pressing objects of the Society have been attained, a favourable spot will be selected where experiments may be tried with regard to Fishes, the naturalisation of which was a favourite project with many of the leading and most active founders of the Society.
West of this, on the site of the existing llama house, were the cattle sheds and yards (25), containing small zebus, a fine Brahmin bull, and an American bison calf, presented by the Hudson's Bay Compan}^ This young female replaced a very large male, purchased from a showman, by whom it had been exhibited under the classical name of " the bonassus," to which, of course, it had no claim. Soon after its transfer to the Society it died, " probably in consequence of the sudden change operating upon a habit already enfeebled by chronic disease." Behind this house were the owls' cages (26), which have been removed within the last few years. The stock consisted of great-eared, Virginian eagle, snowy, brown, and white owls, and a pair of ravens were kept here.
In front of these sheds, near the site of the bandstand, was an octagonal eagles' aviary (29), containing a griflbn and sociable vultures, white-headed eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, and golden eagles. East of this aviary was the turtle-doves' cage (27), containing, in addition to the common form, white and pied varieties, wood- pigeons, white- crowned pigeons, an " Oriental partridge," a Californian quail, black-tailed godwits^ a scarlet ibis, and some Norfolk plover. Opposite was a rabbit enclosure (28), in which the wild species and fancy varieties were kept. On the right was the guinea-pig enclosure (30), and,
PLATE III.
THE CAMEL HOUSE.
(See p. 37.)
#♦
♦T
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 41
close by, the wolves' den (31), where a litter was produced in the spring.
The rest of the buildings and enclosures stood between the cattle shed (25) and the entrance. First in order was the pond for geese (32), stocked with mute, Polish and white swans, Gambian, Canada, Chinese, Egyptian, grey-lag, bean, white- fronted, brent and barnacle geese, and sheldrakes. Beyond, and facing the waterfowls' lawn, were the large aviaries (33), with Balearic cranes, a marabou stork, common and black storks, common and purple herons, bitterns ; a collection of curassows, and a guan ; a number of fancy pigeons, and an interesting hybrid between the pheasant and the guinea-fowL At the back of the aviaries were the keepers' apartments (34) and the office of the Superintendent. Nearer the entrance were the pelicans, enclosure (35) and the emus' enclosure (36). The emus were hatched in the Royal Menagerie at Windsor, and presented to the Society by George IV.
Receipts from the sale of the Guide for 1829 amounted to £288, and rose in 1831 to £369 ; they then dwindled gradually till 1847, when vanishing point was reached.
Towards the close of the year the tunnel was made con- necting the two Gardens, and the Repository was built at the east end of the North Garden. This served for the reception of animals on their arrival, and as a plaoe in which to keep those that needed protection. It has been, in turn, the lion house, a reptile house, a small cats' house, and is now the squirrels' house.
A very important part of this year's work was the establish- ment of a farm under the wall of Richmond Park at Kingston Hill. The Council described it in their Report as well adapted for the work of the Society. With the exception of two or three meadows it consisted of covert and arable land with a light dry soil, and was well supplied with springs, so that stews and fish- ponds might easily be added.
It had been urged against the Council that the delay in carrying out the experimental work specified in the Charter was a matter of reproach to them. There were, however, good reasons for waiting, and in their Report they specified the fol- lowing as the purposes and objects for which the farm would be utilised:
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THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 43
I. In affording a convenient relief and assistance to the Menagerie in the Park, by removing from it such Quadrupeds and Birds as may require a quiet place to bring forth and rear their young ; also in receiving the duplicates of the collection which it may be expedient to keep in hand to replace those which are exhibited in the Park when necessary; and likewise to maintain such as want a more extended range than the Garden at present admits of, or which it is necessary to allow to remain at liberty.
II. The rearing various domesticated Quadrupeds and Birds, both of ornamental as well as useful varieties, with a view of having their kinds true and free from mixture ; or in effecting improvements in the quality or properties of those used for the table ; and likewise in domesticating subjects from our own or foreign countries, which have not hitherto been inmates of our poultry or farm yards.
III. The conducting experiments in all matters relating to breeding and points of animal physiology connected therewith, the range of which is very various and extensive. Many of these will require much time to be completed ; some may be brought to a conclus'on within a year or two. It is remarkable that there have never been published any correctly recorded facts on which the opinions at present entertained by physiolo- gists on many of such matters can be supported. It is to be hoped that the Zoological Society may be the instrument of settling many questions of this description in a satisfactory manner.
In the objects of attention at the Farm, the breeding and trying experiments with fish are of course included.*
In 1830 Mr. Decimus Burton was appointed architect, and a good deal of work was done in laying out the North Garden. The main walk was made from end to end, as were others radi- ating from it and on the slope down to the canal. South of the Repository was a row of dog-kennels ; westward, near the site of the thars' house, were the ostrich shed and walk, separated by the gravel path from the kangaroos' paddock, in which was a shed for shelter. The most important structure was the wapiti house, which also accommodated antelopes and zebras; here, too, for a time, elephants were kept. It communicated with six
* In 1830 the idea of fish-culture seems to have been abandoned in favour of experiments for introducinof new fonns. At the Anniversary Meeting in that year the Coimcil reported that some of the varieties most desired were to be found in Germany ; and that the steam navigation of the Rhine offered new facilities for their transportation. Two years later the ponds and supply of water at the Farm were found less satisfactory than was expected. The fish-stock then consisted of common carp, gold-fish, flounders, and eels ; but the last two species had not been examined for two years, for fear of disturbing the aquatic birds. In the following year the Farm was given up.
U THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
paddocks, strongly fenced, and in the upper storey were rooms for keepers and stores. Beyond this was a paddock containing the pond (Plate 12) which is now at the back of the rhinoceros stalls in the elephant house. The exit gate and carriage-sweep outside were made, and in this farther part of the Garden were sties for peccaries, a small house for tapirs, and yards for the gardeners and carpenters. In the South Garden the grounds were cleared of the workmen's sheds ; a pit with a pond was con- structed for the polar bear just east of the monkey poles, and a seal house erected in a line with and west of the otter pond. The Menagerie stock was greatly increased. The King signified his pleasure to become the Patron of the Society, and presented the collection of animals in the Royal Menagerie at Windsor. The following is the list given in the Report of the Council :
Mammals :— 14 wapiti, 3 axis and 2 sambur deer, 1 American roe deer, 3 gnus, 2 nylghaie, 2 llamas, 4 Cashmere and 3 Barbary goats, 1 Cape ram, 7 zebus, 2 mountain and 2 Burchell's 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 pea-fowls of different varieties, 4 crowned cranes, 1 scarlet ibis, 1 spoonbill, and 7 cereopsis geese.
No mention is made of any reptiles, but Jesse,^ who, from his official position as Surveyor of H.M.'s Parks and Palaces, must have known a good deal about the Royal Menagerie, says that the man in charge had a narrow escape of being killed by " the boa constrictor." He seems to have made a pet of the reptile, and used to bring it into his sitting-room. On the last occasion of being allowed its liberty, the serpent struck at the keeper, and threw two or three coils round his body. Fortu- nately his cries brought assistance, and he was released from his perilous position.
In addition to this " splendid present," as it was rightly called by the Council, Queen Adelaide sent three alpacas, and the Duke of Sussex an original Member of the Societ}^ a Persian lynx. From other donors were received ostriches, three
* " Gleanings in Natural History," 2nd series, p. 120.
1
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 45
demoiselle cranes, several South American birds and quadrupeds, a wombat, a vicugna, and a pair of J a van peafowl.
The Royal gift naturally excited a good deal of interest. A paragraph in the Times of August 19 announced that great pre- parations were being made at the Gardens for the reception of the animals, and that more than 100 men were employed in draining the ground on the banks of the Regent's Canal and constructing habitations for housing the stock. A good deal of it, however, was sent to the Farm.
This notable accession enabled the Council to behave liberally to the Zoological Society then being formed in Dublin by offering duplicates. A similar offer was made to the Royal Menagerie at Paris, whither were sent a pair of wapiti from the Royal herd, and duplicates of Indian and Australian animals " worthy of the National Institutions of England and France respectively to offer and accept."
About this time the Society endeavoured to procure a giraffe. At the Council Meeting of July 7 a letter was read from Mr. Traill, of Cairo, offering his services in obtaining a specimen, and it was determined to allow £300 for one " delivered safely and in good health at Alexandria." Not long after this the skin and skeleton of " the giraffe which lately died at Windsor '* were offered to the Society. A minute states that the Council " thankfully accept the same, and will also defray the charges of preserving and setting up the animal."
The following account^ of that giraffe in captivity is, not improbably, from Owen's pen:
It was at that thne [August, 1827] exceedingly playful ; but as its growth proceeded, which was rapid (having increased eighteen inches in less than two years), it became much less active ; its health evidently declined ; its legs almost lost their power of supporting the body ; the joints seemed to shoot over ; and at length the weakness increased to such a degree, that it became necessary to have a pulley constructed, which, being suspended from the ceiling of the animal's hovel, was fastened round its body, for the purpose of raising it on its legs without any exertion on its own part. From the harmless disposition and uniform gentleness of this animal, the interest which it had excited in his late Majesty was very
* Zoological Magazine, p. 3. This was founded by Owen (Jan., 1833), who sold the copyright after six numbers liad appeared. In the " Life " by his grandson, the Eev. Richard Owen, he is said to have written the greater part of this short- lived periodical.
46 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
great ; but notwithstanding every attention it died in the following year. . . .
Owing to the distance from town at which this animal was kept, and the state of confinement which its weakly condition rendered indispensable during the latter period of its existence, the living giraffe was seen in this country by comparatively few individuals. The skin, however, and skeleton, both beautifully prepared, are preserved in the Museum of the Zoological Society— the munificent donations of his present Majesty [William IV.].
The date of the animal's death is fixed by the following extract from the Windsor and Eton Express, October 17, 1829 :
Messrs. Gould* and Tomkins, of the Zoological Gardens, are now dissecting the Giraffe which expired on Sunday last. We understand that when the skin is stuffed. His Majesty intends making it a present to the Zoological Society.
The most important animal received in 1830 was a young male orang presented by Mr. Swinton, of Calcutta, who had previously sent a female specimen in spirits for the Museum. It reached England in the late autumn; for at the meeting of November 3 the Council voted a gratuity of £3 " to the person who had the care of the orang lately presented to the Society.'* It was, however, never exhibited. Jesse,t who was interested in the animal, prints the following account of it ''from a gentleman connected with the Zoological Society " :
On its return from India, the vessel which conveyed the poor little orang to a climate always fatal to its race, stopped some time at the Isle of France to take in fresh provisions. The orang accompanied the sailors in their daily visits to the shore, and their calls upon the keepers of taverns, and places of a like description. To one of these, kept by an old woman who sold coffee, &c., for breakfast, the orang was accus- tomed to go, unattended every morning ; and by signs easily interpreted, demand his usual breakfast, which was duly delivered. The charge was scored up to the captain's account, which he paid before his departure.
The orang was on excellent terms with all the ship's company, except the butcher, of whom he was afraid, and whom he made every effort to concihate, " having seen him kill sheep and oxen in the exercise of his duty." From the sailors' hammocks the orang would convey any article that he considered would add
* This must have been John Gould, then preserver and curator to the Museum of the Zoological Society.
t " Gleanings," 2nd series, pp. 40-42.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 47
to his own comfort. Any piece of bedding that was missed was, of course, sought for in that part of the ship where the orang slept, but he was by no means disposed to give it up to the rightful owner without a contest. The animal was subjected to some training, for
His conduct at table, to which he was familiarly admitted, was decorous and polite. He soon comprehended the use of knives and forks, but preferred a spoon, which he handled with as much ease as any child of seven or eight years old.
On its arrival in this country the animal was kept for a short time in the house of a gentleman residing in Kegent's Park. There it sickened, and was removed to Bruton Street; but it gradually grew worse and died in a few days, " not without the regret of the nurse and the sympathy of us all"
Mr. Joseph Sabine resigned the treasurership and was suc- ceeded by Mr. James Morrison.
This year witnessed the establishment of scientific meetings. At the Council Meeting of July 21 a Committee of Science and Correspondence was appointed, consisting of Dr. Grant, Dr. Harwood, Dr. Horsfield, and Messrs. Bell, Bennett, Bicheno, Broderip, Brookes, Children, Coleman, S pence, and Yarrell. Each Member of the Council had a seat on the Committee ex officio, and letters of invitation to take part in the meetings were sent to prominent Members engaged in scientific work. Among these were the Bells, E. T. Bennett, Robert Brown (the botanist), Dean Buckland, William Clift (Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons), W. H. Fitton (President of the Geological Society), R. E. Grant (of University College), J. E. Gray (of the British Museum), Sir Everard Home, the Rev. F. W. Hope, Murchison (afterwards Director of the Geological Survey), Ogilby, Owen (then Assistant Conservator of the Hunterian Museum, afterwards Superintendent of the Natural History Department of the British Museum), the Sowerbys, and many others.
The duties of this Committee were (1) to suggest and discuss questions and experiments in animal physiology ; (2) to exchange communications with the Corresponding Members; (3) to promote the importation of rare and useful animals ; and (4) to receive and prepare reports upon matters connected with zoology.
48 THE ZOOLOQTOAL SOCIETY.
In the Councirs Report of November 4 there was an explana- tion that the work entailed by the formation of the Society's ostabUshment— Gardens, Museum, and Farm — had prevented the discussion of scientific matters at the monthly meetings. Consequently it was proposed that this defect should be remedied by holding meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays in each month for that special purpose. The first meeting was held on November 9, when Vigors opened the proceedings with a descrip- tion of the colins or New World quails (Ortyx), of which four species were then in the Gardens. One, the Virginian colin, had, he said, bred in this country, and " had even become naturalised in Suffolk." In this, however, he was mistaken ; and though many other attempts have since been made to introduce the species, they have been unsuccessful. It formerly had a place in Yarrell's "British Birds." In the fourth edition (iii. 122) Mr. Howard Saunders remarked that thousands had been "brought over from North America during the present [the nineteenth] century, without having succeeded in per- manently establishing themselves." He, therefore, omitted it from the list. Mr. J. E. Harting dealt with the subject in the last edition of his " Handbook of British Birds " (pp. 153-55) and referred briefly to the principal attempts to introduce this species, with references to the literature.
More important by far was the paper on the anatomy of the orang, of which the first part was read by Mr. (afterwards Sir Richard) Owen. The subject was the young male which had recently died in Bruton Street. According to Owen it was in "a very debilitated state" when it reached this country, and he attributed its death, not to climatic influences as suggested by Jesse's informant, but to " debility and exhaustion of the system" produced by a long voyage, improper food, and intestinal trouble. This paper, in four parts, was the first of a long series of contri- butions for more than half a century, the last being included in the Proceedings for 1884. Abstracts of the papers were pub- lished in fasciculi, generally of sixteen pages, and the first, which Appeared about the end of the year, contained the business of three meetings. These fasciculi were delivered to the Fellows free of charge.
Though not an official publication, " The Gardens and
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 49
Menagerie of the Zoological Society Delineated " was prepared under the superintendence of the Secretary and Vice-Secretary, with the sanction of the Council. The first volume, dealing with the mammals, appeared in the autumn, and the second, treating of the birds, some months later. In the preface it was stated that " one great aim of the Society is to diffuse as widely as possible a practical acquaintance with living animals." Technical expressions " which render most scientific works unintelligible to the general reader " were avoided. With this simplicity of language was combined scrupulous accuracy with regard to facts, and the drawings were made and the descriptions taken from animals living in the Menagerie. There was no attempt to arrange the beasts or birds in classificatory groups, but a systematic index was given at the end of each volume. Much was said about the possible domestication of new forms, notably of the curassows. There was reference to some attempts at acclimatisation in Holland in the eighteenth century; and the remark that "it may not be too much to expect that the Zoological Society may be successful in perfecting what was then so well begun" shows the author was thoroughly in sympathy with the economic aims of the new institution. But the hopes then entertained with regard to these birds have been disappointed, and the story of the failure was told some twenty years later.* These volumes were very well received, and might serve in many respects as models for a popular "Natural History."
Bennett's name appears as editor, though he was more than that ; and was assisted in his task by Vigors, Broderip, Wallich, and Yarrell. A notice of the first volume in the Athenceum (Oct. 23) is of interest from the mental attitude of the writer with respect to the Gardens :
This book will be invaluable to the sick, to the infirm— and, indeed, to all those persons who from weakness of constitution or the severity of our English summers, are unable to go upon their travels so far as the Zoological Gardens, in the back settlements of the Regent's Park- where the wild beasts of the desert, and the wild birds of the wood and rock abound. The Zoological Gardens may be visited in this singularly faithful and beautiful work to the perfect satisfaction of the eye ; and
* E. S. Dixon, ♦' The Dovecote and the Aviary," pp. 223-279 (London, 1851). E
60
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
perhaps the holiday which the ear and nose enjoy in this pictured visit is not without its pleasures and relief. . . . The publication of a work so spiritedly, yet so carefully got up as this, is a real treasure to science. Anyone may now have his own menagerie in his own room — every gentleman be his own Wombwell.
Till long beyond this date it will not be possible to tabulate the condition of the Menagerie stock with any approach to accuracy. All the details procurable with regard to the number of animals in the Gardens at the Anniversary Meeting in 1829 are given on p. 36. At the next anniversary no particulars were afforded, but a record of the number and species of " living animals at present exhibited in the Gardens and at Bruton Street" was laid upon the table for the inspection of the Fellows. In an account published in the Annual Keport presented in 1831 there are included 178 species of mammals and 195 of birds. At the end of the list it is stated that "many of the smaller British birds which have been kept in the Society's Aviaries are purposely omitted, as are also the Reptiles, although many species of this class have been con- tinually exhibited in the Gardens." This list was probably made up to December 31, 1830, as were the accounts, but in many cases the figures, especially those of the breeding lists, refer to the period between one anniversary and the next.
Fellowship Roll, Visitors and Finance.
|
1827 1828 1829 1830 |
No. of FeUows. |
Admissions to Gardens. |
Income. £. |
Expenditure. £. |
|
602 1,226 1,528 1,769 |
98,605* 189,913 224,745 |
4,079 11,515 13,994 15,958 |
4,375 10,044 12,414 14,615 |
* From April 27— December 31.
First Lady Jane. (See pp. G5, 85.) From the '^Mirror," 1838.
Plate 10.
First Chimpanzee. {See p. 60.) From Stiodies by G. Scharj,
61
CHAPTER III.
1831—1840.
At the Anniversary Meeting of 1831 the Marquess of Lansdowne resigned the office of President, and Lord Stanley (afterwards the thirteenth Earl of Derby) was unanimously elected. An entry in the minutes records the appreciation by the Council of the services rendered by Lord Lansdowne " in accepting office on the melancholy occasion of the death of the Founder^ and first President of the Society " ; and in consequence he was made an Honorary Member. Mr. J. Morrison, the Treasurer, was succeeded by Mr. Charles Drummond, in whose family the office still remains.
At the Annual Meeting in 1833 Mr. N. A. Vigors, who had been elected Member for County Carlow, gave up the Secretaryship the better to discharge his Parliamentary duties. He was then formally thanked for his services, and at the following General Meeting, on May 2, the Council recorded their high sense of his eminent services, and their cordial concurrence in the thanks already given to him. The following paragraphs are from their Report :
His zeal for the welfare of the Institution to which he has devoted himself during the seven years which have elapsed since its establishment, his scientific acquirements, and his readiness of access and of communica- tion contributed materially in the earlier days of the Society to its success, and have since continued to advance its interests. . . .
In the donation of the first Secretary, and in the liberal present of the Sumatran collection of the first President, the late Sir Stamford Raffles, the Museum originated ; and the Council look forward to the day when, in a building worthy of its reception, there may be placed, by the liberality of the members, lasting memorials of its joint founders. As in the case of the
* This is the first— perhaps the only — instance in which the title of Founder is applied to Sir Stamford Eaffles, in an official document, without qualification of some kind. It seems to have escaped notice hitherto, for which reason attention is called to it.
52 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Eafflesiaa collection, the Council have ordered that the several articles of the Vigorsian collection shall be marked with the name of the donor, the extent of whose liberality towards the Society will thus be made evident to every visitor of the Museum.
Vigors died in London in 1840. His remains were taken to Ireland and interred in the ancient cathedral at Old Leighlin, where a monument was erected to his memory. The inscription is given in full by Professor D. J. Cunningham,^ and the following sentences are worth quotation: —
With the co-operation of the late Sir Stamford Eafiles, he was the original founder of the Zoological Society of London, to which he was Honorary Secretary for the first seven years of its institution. As a member of all the literary and scientific societies of Europe, his name will be long remembered to science.
An appreciative obituary notice appeared in the Gentleman's Magazine for December, 1840 (p. 659), in which the following passage occurs :
His long and intimate connection witli the Zoological Society is well known ; in fact, it is no more than justice to unite his name with those of Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Humphry Davy as the founders of that useful, interesting, and flourishing institution.
Edward Turner Bennett succeeded Vigors, and filled the post till his death in August, 1836. He founded the library, with a donation of something over 200 volumes, and in their record of his services the Council referred to his skill in conducting the negotiations for acquiring rare and valuable animals, and his accurate attention to the carrying out of all works at the Gardens and Museum. With regard to the latter, one of the centres of the Society's scientific usefulness, it was said that "he left no means unemployed to maintain this most important department on the scale contemplated by its Founders, Sir Stamford Raffles and Mr. Vigors." The Council considered that the state of the Society's published papers was the chief cause of its high reputation. This they attributed to the unwearied diligence and comprehensive acquirements of their late Secretary — as shown in the numbers of papers he had contributed, and his judicious supervision of the production of the Proceedings and Transactions.
♦ " Origin and Early History of the Eoyal Zoological Society of Ireland," p. 29,
THE ZOOLOGIGAL SOCIETY. 53
The first scientific meeting that occurred after his death was adjourned as a mark of respect ; and at the monthly General Meeting immediately following it was unanimously resolved :
That this meeting deeply lament the announcement which has been made in the Report of the death of the late Secretary, Mr. Edward Turner Bennett ; and they desire to record their deep sense of the loss which the Society and science have sustained in the decease of so excellent and amiable a man.
Bennett was succeeded by Yarrell, who held office for two years, when he was compelled to resign owing to his business engagements. His services to the Society, from its foundation till his death, thirty years later, can hardly be overrated. In accepting his resignation the Council spoke in high terms of his zoological attainments and the general acquaintance with business details which enabled him " to fill the responsible office of Secretary in a manner equally creditable to himself and advantageous to the Society."
The Rev. John Barlow then became Secretary, and was followed in 1839 by Ogilby, who retained the post till 1847, and was the last Honorary Secretary.
In 1833 Gould was appointed Superintendent of the ornitho- logical department of the Museum, over which he presided for four years, when he resigned in order to go to Australia in search of material for his great work on the birds of the island continent. He did not, however, leave England till the following year ; and before embarking wrote thus to the Council :
With regard to the Society's ornithological collection, as I have at all times taken a great interest in it, and have ever done my utmost to increase its value, I hope that on my return to England, I may be allowed to resume the care of it, should I be desirous of so doing.
To this application a favourable reply was sent, and Gould was elected a Corresponding Member of the Society.^ On that occasion the Council recorded their sense of the great scientific value of his work, and expressed the earnest hope that his present undertaking might be crowned with that success which had hitherto accompanied his efforts.
On his return, however, he did not take up his old duties,
* Gould took up the Fellowship in 1840, and was afterwards a Member of Council and Vice-President.
54
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
but devoted his energies to the production of his famous books. Mr. G. R. Waterhouse was appointed Curator of the Museum in 1836, and fulfilled the duties of that post till 1843, when he obtained an assistantship in the British Museum. Mr. Louis Fraser succeeded him, and after his resignation in 1845 the Museum was in charge of subordinate officers.
In 1831 there was an extension of the ground held on lease by the Society from the Crown. This consisted of five acres and a half on the west side of the South Garden, about an acre
^yte^tig
PUBLIC DRIVE ROUND THE PARK
WEST END OF NORTH GARDEN AND NORTHWARD EXTENSION, 1834.
on the west of the North Garden, and a strip on the north bank of the canal, containing about three acres and a half, and extending in front of the whole length of the grounds on the south side of the canal. This northward extension is shown on the plan above and on the opposite page. An additional ten acres, along the south-western verge of the South Garden, was leased from the Crown in 1834. This area was separated from the Park by a wire fence, and, for a time, used as pasture land. The rent paid for the whole was £740, but an abatement was made in 1839, which reduced the amount to £503 7s. 8d. A good deal of building went on during this decade, and the most important structures are given in order of time. In the North Garden an elephant paddock was formed just west of the
TEE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
55
wapiti house. South of this, the exit turnstile was put up, and the carriage sweep in front of it was made. In the west end of the Garden the pheasant aviaries, removed from Kingston Hill, were erected. Then the first elephant house was built, on the spot where the mouflons' enclosure now stands. The paddock contained the pond, which has since been somewhat altered in shape ; and two dry yards were formed " for the use of the animals when the ordinary paddocks would be too wet for their reception." The house was warmed on a novel plan, "the
EAST END OF NORTH GARDEN AND NORTHWARD EXTENSION, 1834.'
chimney being carried round the building beneath the incom- bustible floor, and the whole of the heat being thus given out within the house itself" In 1834 the well was bored near the repository, and a pumping engine erected ; this con- siderably reduced the cost of the water supply.
The girafife house at first consisted of the central part, the wings being built later. The space allotted to the animals received in 1836 was divided into two compartments of 40 ft. by 20 ft. and 20 ft. by 20 ft. respectively, while visitors passed through the house. Paddocks were added, and a mound was thrown up in front, and fenced and planted so as to hide the animals from the view of people in the Public Drive. A cage at the west end was constructed in 1837 for the orang.
# m
56 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
In the South Garden the ha-ha and glacis along the western boundary were formed; the Three Island Pond was made, and others were dug in the newly acquired area; a house with outside cages for parrots, later used for small mammals, was built ; and a good deal w^as done in the way of embellish- ment, by laying out flower-beds and planting ornamental shrubs. A system of deep drainage was carried out, and check turnstile gates were erected at the entrance in 1834. Two years later an exit gate was made into the Mall, as the Broad Walk was then called; the site of this turnstile was near the present entrance from the Park.
Soon after the first monkey house was opened the following letter was received by the Council:
The front of the monkey house is constructed with taste and judgment ; it is everything that could be wished for the exercise of the animals and the amusement of the company, but the house or back part of the building is low and defective, it is unhealthy and inconvenient ; there is not room enough for the company ; they are suffocated from the confined air and the stench of the animals, and the animals suffer in return. Ladies have fre- quently their veils and dresses torn by being pressed too near the dens.
A writer (not improbably Owen himself) in the Zoological Magazine (1833, p. 96) suggested that Cross's plans should be followed :
His monkeys, for example, instead of being confined by twos and threes in close cages, are preserved in a large space, well ventilated and heated, and defended by a glass frame ; and here they can disport and exercise themselves throughout the whole winter.
Eventually a new house was erected on the site of the present eagles' aviary in 1839, and outside cages were added in the following year.
An Indian elephant, a quagga, and a moose deer, with some other animals, were purchased in 1831 ; while the Society acquired by presentation a young Indian elephant from Ceylon, and a " wild ass from Thibet," which figures in the List as the Equus hemionus of Pallas. This last-mentioned animal lived for about seven years in the Menagerie ; the ass was attacked by a wapiti stag, which broke down the door between the stalls and gored the animal so terribly that it was necessary to slaughter it. Special interest attaches to this wild ass. If
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 57
properly described, it was a true kiang, and it has been generally thought that the first example received by the Society was that presented by Major Hay in ISSO."^
The larger elephant cost £420, and was a great attraction. One visitor wrote to the Assistant Secretary suggesting that the keeper should be dressed " in something of an Asiatic costume," which could be made at a small cost, and put off and on in a minute. The material was to be cloth or calico and a sketch was enclosed to elucidate the description. "The elephant thus attended," said the writer, " and placed in (what will by-and-bye be) your beautiful North Garden, will fancy himself at home, and visitors suppose themselves transported into Asia." The wife of a helper was " allowed to sell, for the use of the elephant alone, rolls, cakes, and fruit, under the direction of the keeper in charge of the animal," but she was not permitted to vend any fermented or effervescing liquor. According to a paragraph in the Times of November 23, she sold in one day to various visitors cakes and buns which amounted to 36s., "all of which the elephant devoured."
About this time the Council must have had some trouble owing to interference with the animals by visitors, for copies of the following notice were set up in the Gardens :
LADIES ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED NOT TO TOUCH ANY OF THE ANIMALS WITH THEIR PARASOLS, CON- SIDERABLE INJURY HAVING ARISEN FROM THIS PRACTICE.
In 1S31 the King presented the Royal collection in the Tower menagerie to the Society, but the animals were not all cleared till the spring of 1832. In accordance with His Majesty's wish, duplicates were sent to the Dublin Gardens ; others were offered to Cross, who accepted some of them. On April 4 there were still in Mr. Cops's charge, at the Tower, two Arctic bears, t a Bengal sheep, a female leopard, two emus, and a cinereous eagle, which he was asked to accept, on condition that
* Proceedbigs Zoological Society, 1859, p. 353, Mamm. pi. Ixxiii. fNot, as one would suppose, polar bears, but brown bears {Ursus arcton). This species is called the Arctic or European brown bear in early Guides.
58 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
no charge was made for their keep from the time at which they became the property of the Society. To this Mr. Cops agreed.
No list is given in the Council's Reports of the animals constituting this Royal gift to the Society. The following, taken from " The Tower Menagerie " by E. T. Bennett, enumerates the species represented in that collection in November, 1828 :
A Bengal lion, lioness and cubs, Cape lion (sold), Barbary lioness, tiger leopards, jaguar, puma, ocelot, caracal, cheetahs (sold), striped and spotted byoenas, hyaena dog, African bloodhound, wolves, jackals, civet cats, ichneu- mons, paradoxure, coati, raccoon, black and grizzly bears, Thibet bear (sold), Bornean bear, macaques and baboons, mongoose, great kangaroo, porcupine, Indian elephant, Burchell's zebra, llama, sambur, Indian antelope, golden and sea eagles, bearded and griffon vultures, secretary-bird (killed), deep- blue macaw (sold), blue-and-yellow macaw, yellow-crested cockatoo, emu, crowned crane, pelicans, alligator, Indian python, anaconda, and over a hundred rattlesnakes.
The words in parentheses show how some animals were disposed of before the Menagerie was given up, and it is doubtful if all the rest — notably, the elephant and the reptiles — came to the Gardens. Two facts, noted by Bennett, have not found their way into general zoological literature. The pelicans^ nested, and the hen bird sat on three eggs, being assiduously fed by the male ; and the python incubated fifteen eggs unsuccessfully t
The Sandwich Island goose must be mentioned, for this species bred pretty freely in the Gardens and at the Farm, and at Knowsley. Lord Stanley then said : " I have little doubt but that these birds may be easily established (with a little care and attention), and form an interesting addition to the stock of British domesticated fowls." That hope, like so many others with regard to the domestication of new species, has been disappointed. The last examples exhibited at the Gardens were a pair received in 1887 from Mr. Scott Wilson, the author of " Aves Hawaiienses," who says that " this interesting species, almost entirely confined as it is to one district of the
• Pelicans have brought off young in the Rotterdam Zoological Garden (see Der Zoologische Garten, 1872, s. 264, and Proceedings Zoological Society, 1899, p. 827.
t The incubation of the African python in the Jardin des Plantes in 1841 is usually cited as the first instance in Europe. The same species incubated in the Zoological Gardens in 1862, and an account by Dr. Sclater appeared in the Froceedings (pp. 365-8) for that year.
Elephant in his Bath. {See x>. 44.) From the "Mirror," Sept. 6, 1828.
Giraffes. (See p. 63.) From the "Saturday Magazine" Sept. 3, 1836.
Plate IZ
TEE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 69
island of Hawaii, is clearly doomed to extinction before many years are past."
One report respecting the Lake lias been preserved, from which it appears that in October, 1832, there were on that water common and wild swans ; Chinese, Canada, white-fronted, bean, barnacle, and Egyptian geese ; Muscovy ducks and hybrids, shel- drakes, pintails, wigeon, gadwalls, teal, and wild duck. With the exception of the last-named species, only one or two pairs of each were kept. The season was bad; and at that time there were sixteen goslings and about forty wild ducklings, exclusive of those which had flown away, but would return in the winter.
The gallinaceous birds kept on the islands for breeding and crossing were duck-winged game, Indians, silkies, and bantams- More than a hundred chicks were hatched out, but the rats took heavy toll of them. Benjamin Misselbrook, who was afterwards head-keeper, and retired on a pension in 1889, had charge of the birds.
Mr. Bryan Hodgson, the British Resident in Nepal, made an extensive collection of the splendid and interesting pheasants of that country, as well as of other birds. Nearly a hundred were despatched from Katmandu ; " many perished in the sultry plains of India, and nearly the whole of the remainder died in Calcutta." Of the few that were shipped to England not one survived the passage. Although greatly disappointed, Mr. Hodgson did not lose heart, and later attempts were more successful.
In 1834 an Indian rhinoceros was purchased for a thousand guineas. It was said to be about four years old ; the length from the root of the tail to the tip of the snout, in a straight line, measured 10 ft. 6 in., and the height at the loins was 4 ft. lOJ in. The Council reported that it " was scarcely inferior in its dimensions to the largest specimen yet recorded as having existed in Europe."
Late in the autumn of 1835 a young chimpanzee was imported from the Gambia. No example of this anthropoid had as yet been exhibited by the Society. Having received information of the arrival of the animal at Bristol, the Council sent down one of the chief keepers to purchase it. In this he
60 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
succeeded ; but found some difficulty in conveying his charge to London, owing to objections on the part of coach proprietors. After some delay he obtained two inside places in a night coach. The chimpanzee proved a good traveller, and reached the Gardens in excellent health and spirits.
The arrival of this small anthropoid created a great deal of excitement, quite comparable to that aroused when the hippo- potamus came, some fifteen years later. Theodore Hook made it the subject of some verses from which the descriptive lines are quoted :
The folks in town are nearly wild
To go and see the monkey-child,
In Gardens of Zoology,
Whose proper name is Chimpanzee.
To keep this baby free from hurt,
He's dressed in a cap and a Guernsey shirt ;
They've got him a nurse, and he sits on her knee.
And she calls him her Tommy Chimpanzee.
Tommy's span of life in captivity was short — just six months, as is stated in the Council's Report for 1837. Broderip wrote an interesting account of its habits for the Proceedings (1835, pp. 160-8), from which it is evident that the chimpanzee lived in the keeper's apartments, and was allowed a considerable amount of liberty. In an article in the New Monthly (January, 1838) he included what may be called an obituary notice :
Poor dear Tommy, we knew him well, and who is there who was not at least his visiting acquaintance ? . . . . Peace be with him ! Everybody loved him ; everybody was kind to him. In his last illness he was suffered to come forth for a closer enjoyment of the kitchen-fire ; and there we saw him sit, " leaning his cheek upon his hand," watching the gyrations of a depending shoulder of mutton, as it revolved and hissed between him and the glowing grate— no, not with the prying mischievous eyes of ordinary monkeys ; but with a pensive philosophic air that seemed to admit his own inferiority, and to say— "Ah ! man is, indeed, the cooking animal."*
Gibbons were exhibited in 1839, so that before the end of the first decade three of the four anthropoid apes had come into the possession of the Society.f
*Thi8 animal was the subject of Owen's paper "On the Morbid Appearances observed in the Dissection of the Chimpanzee," in Froceedvigs, 1836, p. 41. t Proceedings, 1839, p. 148.
J
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 61
In the Report issued on April 29, 1836, reference is made to the expected arrival of the giraffes obtained by M. Thibaut, and to previous attempts to obtain examples:
In the earlier years of the Society's existence the acquisition of this singular and rare animal was among the most important objects to which the attention of the Council was directed, and they made many inquiries as to the most probable means of effecting it, and even named a price which would be paid for one or two of them on their being delivered in good health at the Society's Gardens.
These efforts go back, at any rate, to 1831, and Mr. Money Wigram, a Fellow of the Society, had a hand in the negotiations. On March 28 he wrote to Mr. Vigors to the effect that he could give no particulars as to the price of the giraffe then daily expected to arrive, since the owner was absent from England. He offered to use his best endeavours to obtain a preference for the Zoological Society in having the refusal, but expressed his own opinion that, " provided he [the giraffe] arrives in London in perfect health, the price to be paid for him ought not to be a consideration, under the difficulty of obtaining such an animal in this country at all." Five days later Mr. Vigors was informed, by another hand, that the "Geraffe on board the Lady McNaughte7t is dead, but they reserved the skin of it." At the same time the writer offered an Indian elephant for four hundred guineas, stating that " Mr. Yates, of the Adelphia," was "rather urgent to get it." The animal was purchased by Mr. Yates, and in Broderip's " Zoological Recreations " (p. 320) there is a reference to " the sagacious acting of the elephant at the Adelphi."
In September, 1833, Mr. Charles Phillips made overtures to the Society, on behalf of Messrs. Phillips and King, with respect to a giraffe shipped from the Cape of Good Hope. An agreement was signed by which the Society consented to pay £500 for the animal, if on arrival it was approved by the Council. A building was to be erected for it in the Gardens, where it was to form a special show, for which all visitors other than Fellows and holders of privileges were to be charged one shilling each. For the space of a twelvemonth this money was to be paid over to Messrs. Phillips and King.
The agreement, however, was not carried out. On Sept. 27
62 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Mr. Phillips received news that the giraffe had died when the vessel was a few days out from Cape Town. " Its appetite was good till within half an hour of its death, and until then it appeared quite healthy." Information was at once given to the Council, by whom Mr. Phillips was formally thanked " for the kind and cordial manner in which he had acted."
Messrs. Cannell and Wright offered a giraffe in November, 1834, on behalf of a correspondent then at Genoa. In their letter the animal was described as being six years old, fifteen feet high, with a beautiful figured skin, acclimated, and in excellent health, strong, and vigorous. It Avas said to live on beans and barley mixed, green herbage, bread, and fruit. The price was 10,000 Spanish dollars, with delivery in Genoa. Taking the dollar at a little under four shillings, this amounts to nearly £2,000, probably the largest sum ever asked for a giraffe. An endorsement on the letter shows that the Council were " un- willing to treat for the purchase at a high price of an animal at a distance from London."
At the close of 1833 an arrangement was made with M. Thibaut, then at Cairo, to proceed to Nubia to procure giraffes for the Society. The animals were to be delivered in Malta, " and it was not until his landing of them in that island that he was entitled to receive the stipulated price, which was fixed at a rate for each individual, diminishing in proportion to the number that he should succeed in bringing with him."
The story of his expedition is told in a letter addressed by M. Thibaut to the Secretary, which was read at the meeting of February 9, 1836, and printed in the Proceedings for that year (pp. 9-12). He left Cairo in April, 1834, for Kordofan, where he obtained five giraffes, four of which were killed by the cold weather on the return route to Dongola. Another journey into the desert resulted in the capture of three more giraffes, which, with that left at Dongola, were sent down the Nile from Wadi Haifa to Cairo and Alexandria, whence they were shipped to Malta, where they arrived on November 21. After a quarantine of twenty-five days they were removed to convenient quarters, and the stipulated sum of £700 was paid to M. Thibaut. The Council determined to avail themselves of his experience with respect to the treatment of these valuable animals, and arranged
PLATE IV.
THREE ISLAND POND.
(See p. 56.)
I
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 63
that he should take charge of them till their arrival in England, when he was to have " a handsome present proportioned to his success."
The steamer Manchester, with its interesting freight, arrived at the Brunswick Wharf, Blackwall, on May 24, 1836. On the following morning at daybreak the giraffes were landed in the presence of several naturalists and friends of the Society. The following account of their journey through London is from the Morning Herald of May 26 :
These interesting animals were conveyed yesterday morning from Blackwall to the Zoological Gardens. They left the former place at three o'clock, attended by Mr. Bennett, the Secretary of the Society ; M. Thibaut, who was attired in an Arab dress ; the Nubian and Maltese attendants ; and a detachment of the Metropolitan police to keep the road clear of obstruc- tions, and they arrived at the Gardens about six o'clock. The cavalcade had altogether a very novel appearance ; but it appeared that the precau- tions were absolutely necessary, as the animals started at the slightest noise, and the different cabs and other conveyances on the line were solicited to remove into the adjacent streets, which was in every case attended to without objection. Some alarm was occasioned to the animals in passing a field in the Commercial Road, where a cow was grazing ; and it required some inducement to cause them to go forward, but they w^ere conducted to the Gardens without much difficulty, The Gardens were yesterday visited by great numbers of persons, with whom the animals were great sources of attraction from their stately appearance, the beauty and symmetry of their neck and ears, and striking prominence of their eyes. The oldest is about twenty months, and none have attained their full size, which is ordinarily eighteen feet. They appeared to be quite reconciled to their situation in the elephant-house, and to be not at all incommoded by visitors.
Owen and his wife witnessed the arrival of " the most lovely procession imaginable." The animals were brought in through Gloucester Gate, and when they caught sight of the trees they became excited, and M. Thibaut directed that they should be allowed to browse. In her Diary, under the date of May 25, Mrs. Owen wrote : " They were delighted apparently to get into the Gardens, and were soon safe and unhaltered in the elephants' new house." ^
In the following table the history of the herd is set out. Seventeen calves were born in the Gardens, and of these one
* " Life of Eichard Owen," i. 99.
64
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
(No. 8) lived for nearly twenty-one years in confinement, which is probably a record: —
|
No. |
Sex. |
|
1 |
? |
|
2 |
6 |
|
3 |
6 |
|
4 |
6 |
|
5 |
6 |
|
6 |
6 |
|
7 |
6 |
|
8 |
(t |
|
9 |
c^ |
|
10 |
^ |
|
11 |
9 |
|
12 |
c^ |
|
13 |
9 |
|
14 |
|
|
15 |
9 |
|
16 |
9 |
|
17 |
^ |
|
18 |
^ |
|
19 |
6 |
|
20 |
c^ |
|
21 |
9 |
|
22 |
c^ |
|
23 |
c^ |
How Obtained.
Imported May 24,* 1836 .
Born m Menagerie, June 19, 1839 „ „ May 24, 1841
|
)) |
Feb. 25, 1844 |
|
|
5> |
1) |
April 22, 1846 |
|
Feb. 12, 1849 |
||
|
Presented by Ibrahim Pasha, |
||
|
June 29, 1849 |
||
|
Purchas |
ed June 29, 1849 |
|
|
Born in |
Menagerie |
, March 30, 1852 |
|
>i |
)) |
April 25, 1853 |
|
» |
„ |
May 7, 1855 |
|
» |
J) |
July 16, 1859 |
|
)> |
5» |
May 26, 1861 |
|
October 7, 1861 |
||
|
5» |
May 8, 1863 |
|
|
)) |
)) |
Sept. 24, 1863 |
|
March 31, 1865 |
||
|
)? |
5) |
April 20, 1865 |
|
J> |
J) |
Sept. 14, 1866 |
|
» |
»» |
March 17, 1867 |
How Disposed of.
Died October 15, 1852 „ October 29, 1846 „ January 14, 1849 „ January 6, 1837 „ June 28, 1839
Pres. to Dublin Zool. Soc, June 14, 1844
Died December 30, 1853 „ January 22, 1867
Sold April 27, 1850
Died November 3, 1856
Sold October 29, 1853
„ March 29, 1853
Died May 21, 1872
„ November 6, 1866
„ December 2, 1859
Sold May 1, 1863
Died December 18, 1861
„ November 18, 1863
„ April 21, 1864
„ April 3, 1865
Sold May 31, 1866
Died November 6, 1866
„ June 20, 1881
As soon as Cross heard of the probable arrival of the giraffes he applied to the Council to be allowed to purchase one on their own terms. They did not accede to his request, and he instructed Mr. Warwick, who had gone out, to procure some at all risks ; and three arrived in July. In a pamphlet, written by Mr. Warwick, he says the giraffes were removed from the place where they were captured to Cairo " in boats and on the backs of camels, a distance of thirty-five days' journey."
The first recorded instance of the birth of a giraffe in cap- tivity took place in the Gardens in June, 1839. The animal was
* The Occuxrence sheets are made up in the morning of the day following that for which they are dated. The giraffes arrived some hours before the sheet for May 24 was filled in, and were consequently entered thereon. This accounts for the discrepancy between the date in the table, compiled from the sheet, and that given in Mrs. Owen's Diary and the Mor)nng Herald.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65
a male, and, like other ruminants, came into the world with the eyes open and the hoofs disproportionately large.
The skin was marked as distinctly as in the adult, with large angular spots, which were somewhat darker than those of the mother; and the hair of the legs was of a deeper fawn colour. It sucked some warm cow's milk from a bottle with avidity, and once or twice uttered a low, gentle grunt or bleat, something between that of a fawn and a calf. The young creature made several efforts to stand, raising itself on the fore knees ; and was able to support itself on its vacillating and out-stretched legs about two hours after its birth.*
It was necessary to feed the young animal on warm cow's milk, for the dam would not allow it to come near her. It gambolled actively about when a day old, and continued with no appearance of illness till June 28, when it was attacked by convulsions and died.
In 1837 the first orang was exhibited in a cage at the west end of the giraffe house, where it lived till May 7, 1839. Jenny was about three years old when she arrived, and attracted a large number of visitors to the Gardens. Broderip described her as " apparently amiable, though grave and of a sage deportment."
In the last year of this decade Captain Belcher presented a babirusa, the strange '' pig-deer" of Celebes, the first to reach England alive. The Argus pheasant — the plumage of which, with its wonderful ball-and-socket eye-spots, was investigated and described by Darwint in his " Descent of Man " — and the iire-backed pheasant, from Malacca, were also introduced to the Menagerie. The first example of this " fire-back " was obtained in Sumatra by Sir Stamford Baffles. It appears to be fairly common in the neighbourhood of Malacca, but, according to Mr. W. R. Ogilvie- Grant, nothing is known of its eggs or nesting habits.
The Council called special attention in their Report for 1836 '' to a donation by H.R.H. the Princess Victoria of two musk deer." J In the following year the Princess ascended the throne, and signified her pleasure to become the Patroness of the Society,
* Owen, in Proceedings, 1839, p. 109.
t Elected a Corresponding Member in 1831 and a Fellow in 1839.
:|: These were Stanleyan chevrotains. See p. 142.
F
66 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
in which she took great interest, and which she enriched by many valuable gifts and deposits.
It was proposed in 1834 to engage a military band as an additional attraction, but the Council did not think it expedient- By way of protest, one Fellow wrote, in strong terms and with a good deal of underlining, to the Secretary, declining to continue his subscription to the Museum Fund "in consequence of the Council refusing, in a most extraordinary manner, to attend to the wishes of the Society twice voted at their meetings this year, that they should try the experiment of having the band once or twice on week-days." The Avriter suggested that the Museum Fund might well be increased " by voluntary contribu- tions while the band played."
Thomas Landseer's designs for the medal were approved by the Council in 1837, and the dies made by Mr. Benjamin Wyon. The work was much admired ; and Dr. Cox wrote from Naples asking for impressions " to show to some of the artists of Italy," as he was sure that the design and execution would be " honour- able to the Art of England." The application was granted : there could only be one answer to such a flattering request.
It will be convenient to consider the practical work in London and at Kingston together. Early in the 'thirties the Society, being anxious " to do all in their power towards the promotion of the best kinds of poultry and domestic animals," sought the advice of breeders on the subject. A circular con- taining the following questions was sent out, in the hope that the replies would be of service " in the choice of subjects that would deserve to be encouraged by premiums." It is noteworthy that fancy points are disregarded, and stress is laid on the qualities now distinguished as "utility."
1. What kind of Poultry do you consider the best for the table and the most kindly to fatten ?
2. Are the Poultry which principally fall under your notice consisting of any particular pure breed, or are they mixed breeds?
3. What kind of Fowls do you consider are the most productive layers,^ and which are the best sitters?
4. What race do you consider it most proper to encourage, as combining the three properties of beauty of form and plumage, good layers, and careful nurses— and which are most esteemed in the neighbourhood in which you reside ?
TEE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 67
5. Have you any race of Game Fowl which is celebrated for courage, beauty, and productiveness ; and is there any other race which is deserving of special attention %
6. What race of Ducks do you particularly recommend ; and are they of a large kind, early and prolific breeders, as well as of good flavour 1
7. Is there any particular race of Geese, Turkeys, Guinea- Fowl, or any other kind of Poultry which is peculiar to your neighbourhood, or which you consider desirable to make known, and state the race?
8. Do you know of any Society in your neighbourhood which offers Premiums for the finest kinds of Poultry which is open to competition for any person, whether Member or not?
9. Do you believe that any benefit would arise from offering Premiums for fine kinds of Poultry? Do you think it would tend to excite more attention to breeding pure races, and that it would be likely to multiply good and valuable breeds?
10. Do you think that under the present state of the Game Laws the domestication of Pheasants and other Game will be more generally attempted, and is it your opinion that this would be promoted by offering Premiums for that object ?
A Committee was appointed, which recommended that pre- miums should be offered (1) for the importation of living animals of value not hitherto introduced into this country; (2) for breeding and rearing stock from those introduced, which had not yet bred freely. The following species were enumerated under the two classes :
Europe.— (1) Any non-British grouse. (2) Bustard, eider-duck, any species of grouse.
Africa.— (1) Mitred guinea-fowl, any of the bustards. (2) Little bustard, ostrich.
Asia. — (1) Crested guinea-fowl, any Nepaul pheasant, Argus pheasant, fire- backed pheasant. (2) Crowned pigeon, Indian fowl, Javan pea-fowl, mandarin duck.
New Holland. — (1) Lyre-bird, duck-billed platypus, and spiny anteater.
America. — (1) Any of the grouse, turkeys, canvas-backed duck. (2) Mocking bird, any of the wild swans or snow geese.
All animals that received premiums were to be exhibited, under certain conditions, at the Gardens. It does not appear that this scheme was carried out ; and poultry shows were not instituted till the next decade. Many varieties of fowls were bred and exhibited, and broods were distributed by sale and exchange. In the collection were some interesting hybrids —
68 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Reeves's pheasant x common pheasant (no hen bird of the first-named species was as yet imported) ; common x golden pheasant, guinea-fowl x pheasant, and duck x sheldrake ; but these were acquired by presentation.
Instructions were given by the Council to the Superintendent that " arrangements should be made to train the dragon pigeons to fly long distances." In turn the Superintendent recommended that the two half-bred zebras, the offspring of a common ass and a mountain and a Burchell zebra respectively, " should be trained to draw the small cart belonging to the Garden." The use of them, he suggested, would be appropriate to the character of the Society, "besides which, they would attract attention," These animals were bred at Windsor, and presented to the Society by William IV. They were afterwards trained to draw a light cart, used to bring vegetables from Covent Garden market. In 1838 Youatt wrote to the Council with respect to the risk incurred in using entire animals for draught, adding that it was dangerous " both to man and beast to go into their paddock." One sen- tence in his letter is of interest, as showing that, in his opinion, equine hybrids might be used for stud purposes : " If you intend to keep the younger hybrid for the purposes of breeding, or to experiment with him in any way, well and good." If, however, the animal was to be used for draught, Youatt advised that it should be treated in the ordinary way ; failing this, " he will be ten times more vicious than either of the quaggas." *
Records with respect to breeding were not then kept as care- fully as they are now, when every instance, small or great, is entered on the " Occurrences," and the aggregate summarised in the Annual Report. Towards the close of 1837 or early in 1838 a wish was expressed by someone at a monthly meeting that details should be furnished of the results attending the Society's efforts in the breeding of animals. In the Report presented at the Anniversary Meeting, April 30, 1838, the following record, " selected from a more extended list," and showing the number of young in each case, was printed :
Mammals.— Dromedary (1), Burchell's zebra (1), nylghaie (9), Stanley musk deer (2), Napu musk deer(l), busli kangaroo (2), greater kangaroo (7),
* A stallion hybrid is always a terror. — Major Birkbeck, Bemount Department, Johannesburg, in Proceedings, 1903, i. 2,
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 69
peccary (2), African porcupine (1), six-banded armadillo (5), puma (3), Persian cat (8).
Birds.— Emu (12), gold pheasant (5), silver pheasant (1), cross-bred Keeves's (1), Sonnerat's jungle-fowl (16), American quail (18), bronze- winged pigeon (4), white-crowned pigeon (2), black-swan (12), cereopsis goose (1), Sandwich Island goose (8), Egyptian goose (34), Canada goose (3), Chinese goose (5), summer duck (34), mandarin duck (9).
The following letter shows how species, then rare, were distri- buted, as well as the influence possessed by Yarrell, even after he resigned the secretaryship :
Woburn Abbey, July 2, 1838.
The Duke of Bedford presents his compliments to Mr. Yarrell, and begs to know whether he can spare him a Cereopsis male goose from the Zoological Gardens.
The Duke of Bedford had his birds originally through the kindness of Lord Derby ; but he is now in want of a male, and knows not where they are to be procured, unless the Zoological Society should have one to spare.
This is endorsed, but not by Yarrell : " The breeding season is over this year ; if we can spare one next spring we will."
The only available literature for the Farm is the Report bearing date March, 1832, of which very few copies exist. It is not a very satisfactory document, dealing largely in generalities when details would be welcome. From it, however, one can learn something about the extent of the housing and the char- acter of the stock. There were places for the " roosting, laying, and sitting of poultry," hutches for rabbits, and lofts for fancy pigeons ; covered shed with paddocks, aviaries and pheasantries ; an extensive range of sheds and yards, the former constructed from materials brought from Windsor, used for animals from the Royal menagerie ; ponds with lawns for aquatic fowl, and open sheds for animals at grass. At this time the staff consisted of a Superintendent, a head-keeper, an assistant who looked after the Windsor animals, a keeper for the mammals and one for the birds, two labourers, and a night watchman. Owing to the con- stant exchange of animals between the Park and the Farm the head-keeper at the Gardens occasionally went down to Kingston Hill, and the Committee acknowledged much benefit to both branches of the establishment from his advice and assistance.
Among the stock were wapiti, red, sambur, axis, Virginian, and fallow deer. Of the last-named, specimens had been " recently
70 THE ZOOLOOIGAL SOCIETY.
obtained in order to carry on certain experiments in physio- logical inquiry, at the suggestion of one of the Fellows of the Society." One would like to know what these and other experi- ments were. The wapiti were to be " trained for drawing and riding," but it does not appear that anything was done. There was a small stock of zebus, and it was proposed to utiUse the Brahmin bull at the Park. Nylghaie and mouflon bred there ; foreign varieties of sheep were kept ; a Wallachian ram was crossed with Dorset ewes, and " at the desire of some of the Fellows " a trial was made " of crossing Southdown ewes with the goat as well as with axis deer." Lord Stanley was specially interested in sheep x goat and goat x sheep hybrids. A note from him to Dr. J. E. Gray is printed in the " Gleanings from Knowsley," p. 53 : "I intend to try to produce the Tityrus- Musimon, according to the quaint distich given in Griffith's translation of Cuvier (iv. 311).""^ Kangaroos bred freely, and the observations of Joseph Fuller, the head-keeper, on the period of gestation and the condition of the new-born foetus were included in Owen's paper on the subject. t
Great hopes were entertained of the results of crossing zebras with asses. To this end a Maltese jack was purchased for £80 in 1831. This animal was described as possessing " every quality to induce the recommendation of breeding from him exten- sively." It was hoped that in this way a useful stock of hardy and more powerful beasts of draught might be procured ; but in this respect, as well as in the projected trials of the capabihty of reproduction in mules, no definite information is given.
* The " quaint distich "' consists of the fourth and fifth of the following hexameters : —
DB AMBIGENIS.
Hse sunt amhigenae quaB nuptu dispare constant. Burdonem sonipes generat commixtus asellse. Mulus ab Arcadicis et equina matre creatus. Tityrus ex ovibus oritur hircoque parente. Musimonem capra ex vervegno semine gignit. Apris atque sue setosus nascitur Ibris. At lupus et catula formant coeundo lyciscam.
These verses are attributed to Eugenius, Bishop of Toledo, and are printed in the " Anthologia Veterum " of Peter Burmann the Younger (ed. 1759, ii. 453). i Proceedings, 1833, pp. 128-132.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
71
Experiments in dog-breeding were proposed, but nothing practical seems to have been done. There was a suggestion that fox cubs and terrier puppies should be reared together, and kept loose in an enclosed place. A similar proposal was made with respect to hares and rabbits, the object in each case being to produce hybrids. The possibility of the hare x rabbit cross was not doubted at that time ; and at the meeting of May 10, 1831, a letter was read giving the history of a supposed hare x rabbit hybrid that had been kept at the Farm, though not bred there. The evidence of parentage is not convincing ; it is, how- ever, of interest to know that the cadaver was examined by Owen, who reported that the size and colour were those of the hare, but the hinder legs were shorter than in that species, agreeing rather with those of the rabbit. The length of its small intestines corresponded with that of the hare ; its coecum was seven inches shorter; while its large intestines measured one foot more than those of the hare.
The struthious birds consisted of three pairs of emus and a pair of ostriches. The hen ostrich laid two eggs, one of which was placed under a sitting emu, but the result is not recorded.
Under the heading " GalHnaceous Birds " there is some in- formation about the curassows. Those turned out in the previous summer " soon acquired all the habits of domestic fowls, remain- ing quiet in the yards, and roosting with the turkeys." It was not, however, till 1834 that three were hatched at Stubton Hall, Lincolnshire, from eggs laid by birds belonging to the Society, and sent down to Sir Robert Heron's place. These were probably the first reared in England.
Peafowl, turkeys, and guinea-fowl were kept. Observations were made on various breeds of poultry to discover the best foster-mothers, as they were then called. Other points investi- gated were " the comparative quality of the different kinds as layers, and the different qualities of their eggs." A good many crosses were obtained, and the birds were " upon trial, as nurses, as being ornamental, or of utility for the table." Even at this early date there was a desire to obtain pheasants from Nepal ; grouse were to be kept, and an attempt made to breed partridges and stock-doves in confinement.
There is little to note concerning aquatic birds. Cereopsis
.»%%
72 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
geese bred, and so did a good many of the fancy ducks. The difficulty of reconciling the conditions necessary for breeding with those requisite for exhibition were felt. Thus the mandarin ducks did not increase at the Park as it was hoped they would do, and it was proposed to send them to the Farm. They were, however, a great attraction to visitors, for, though examples had been introduced into England in the first half of the eighteenth century,"^ the birds were unknown to the general public.
One reason why the breeding lists at the Farm were not greater will probably be found in the influx of visitors. Some Fellows seem to have looked upon the establishment at Kingston Hill as a convenient place for picnics. A little light is thrown on this subject by the subjoined letter from Mr. Papps, the Superintendent, to the Assistant Secretary, who had asked for information as to the refusal, on the previous Sunday, to admit a party furnished with a Fellow's order. The rule appears to have been that personal introduction was necessary, though it was not always enforced. Mr. Papps wrote :
The orders of the Council were perhaps more strictly followed than usual, in consequence of the conduct of a party of seventeen persons intro- duced by a Lady of Title on Sunday week, and who dined on the lawn and amused themselves with hunting the zebras and kangaroos about — upsetting the coops, and carrying the ducks about in their arms, and afterwards pouring Punch or something similar into their pans. The Men were kept till past 10 o'clock searching for the ducks after the Party had left, and seven ducks died the next day in consequence of the treatment they had received.
This evil was, no doubt, soon remedied. A more serious drawback to the usefulness of the Farm, inasmuch as it caused an alteration in the system, was the introduction of the large stock of animals from Windsor, " the keep and accommodation of which were of considerable magnitude, so far as relates to expense." Nevertheless, the Committee were of opinion that the additional expenditure had essentially conduced to the well-being of the Society. They concluded their report with a recommendation of " patient perseverance in one uniform system,
* The figure in Edwards's "Natural History of Uncommon Birds" (pt. ii., London, 1747) was drawn by him at Richmond, in Surrey, from the living bird kept in the gardens of Sir Matthew Decker, Bart. The species was then known as the '* Chinese teal."
Elephant and Calf. (See p. 110.) From the ^' Illustratnl London News,'^ April 26, 1851.
Death of Jack. (-See p. 88.) From the "Illustrated London News," June 19, 1847.
Plate 14.
f
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
73
being fully convinced that unsteadiness of purpose and frequent change of plan are the certain means of preventing success."
The Council considered the recommendations very carefully, and requested the Committee and Mr. Yarrell to continue their superintendence at Kingston Hill, fixing the annual expenditure at a sum not exceeding £1,400. To render this possible, reduc- tions were made in the stock and the number of persons employed-
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
or
DUPLICATE SPECIBIENS
OF MANY OF THE ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. AT THEIR GARDENS, IN THE REGENTS PARK.
INCLDDlXO
i^tbrral J^t&ti of 2!2flapttf, i^ambur, anlJ Corsiiran JBtn,
ASD TWO FALLOW BUCKS, A VINE BRAHMIN COW, AND A VARIETY OT SHESP.
A TAILIU Alius £aAIUS ISflii^TISSIS ASSs
RABBITS, &c.
/in EtHH, Chinese 4' Canada Geese, Muscovy Ducks, Pigeons, and PoHftry
of various kinds, and some Hybrids ;
tSXW^ tDtll tt folli Iiff auction, b^ fiSltitn.
RUSHWORTH AND JARVIS,
SUCCESSORS TO MR. SQUIBB,
At the ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS,
iSlegtnt'js; ^arft, On THURSDAY, March 20, 1834, at 1 o' Clock,
BY ORDER OF THE COUNCIL.
M»v U viewed at ibe Gardens on the usual Tenns of Admission, where Catalogues may U h»{< .
at the Society's Office, Bruton-streel ; and of Messrs. Rushworth & Jabvis.
Auctioneers and Land Sunreyors, Saville Row.
No later Keport seems to have been printed. The leasehold land was given up in 1834, and an agent was instructed to dispose of the rest. Some years, however, elapsed before this was done, and not till then did entries respecting the Farm disappear from the balance-sheet. Surplus stock from Kingston Hill, and duplicates from the Park, were sold by public auction. In the Eeport presented at the annual meeting on April 29, 1833, the
74 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
Council stated that the practice was " not only impartial towards those who were desirous of becoming purchasers, but advantageous also to the Society." It was not, however, of long continuance, probably because the Farm stock was soon disposed of. The first sale took place on June 28, 1832, and the last known catalogue is that of which the title-page is reproduced on the previous page.
There were thirty-six lots ; and, despite the optimistic views of the Council, the prices cannot be considered high. A pair of Chinese geese went for 10s., two gold-spangled Polish fowls for 19s. ; a ram and two ewes, bred between a Wallachian ram and Dorset ewes, for £3 3s. ; a wapiti hind for £4 4s., and two fallow bucks for £6 6s. The Maltese jack was bought in for £23.
The premises in Bruton Street soon became crowded, and it was determined to look out for a building suitable for a Museum, or a site whereon one might be erected. When the Council made known their wants in this respect, many replies were received. On March 31, 1831, Marc Isambard Brunei wrote thus:
It has been reported in the papers that the Zoological Society had in conteraplation of purchasing the Colosseum ; if so, which it is to be hoped will he the case, I beg to suggest that, instead of the Panorama of London, the Society may substitute the Georama in true and classic proportions. It will be the most splendid Exhibition that can be offered to the country ; it will be the university for some of the most useful sciences of ours and of future days— Zoology, Geology, Mineralogy, Geography, etc., etc., com- mercial, military, and political relations.
Mr. Brunei offered to go into details of his scheme if the Society wished for further information. Apparently there was no such wish, and the matter dropped. Mr. C. Willson's offer of the Egyptian Hall was also declined.
Donations for the Museum came in rapidly, and the col- lection soon acquired larger dimensions than that in the British Museum. The Government sent many valuable contributions ; the Secretary of State presented specimens of the different species collected by Sir John Franklin's expedition, to which Dr. (afterwards Sir John) Richardson was naturalist; while from the Lords of the Admiralty were received the greater portion of the zoological collections made by Captain Foster,
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75
of the Chanticleer, and the whole of that brought home by Captain King, of the Adventure, during the three years' survey of the southern coast of Patagonia. Darwin, too, was a generous donor, though he seems to have had some difficulty in placing his collections. He wrote, somewhat despondingly, to Henslow :
I do not even find that the Collectors care for receiving the unnamed specimens. The Zoological Museum [in Bruton Street] is nearly full, and upwards of a thousand specimens remain unmounted. I daresay the British Museum would receive them, but I cannot feel, from all I hear, any great respect even for the present state of that establishment.*
All the prominent Fellows contributed liberally, and it was the custom to chronicle donations in the annual Report, in the same way as gifts to the Menagerie were recorded. Two skins of the kiwi presented by the New Zealand Association in 1837, and the body of a bird of the same species, sent by Lord Derby in the same year, deserve special mention.
The house had to serve as offices ; meetings were held there, and it was also used as a prosectorium. In Mrs. Owen's Diary, under date January 5, 1836, there is the entry: " Richard went to Bruton Street to cut up an ostrich." f And from the Council's Report presented at the Anniversary Meeting in that year it appears that the crowded condition of the rooms where the specimens were exhibited gave them "rather the confused air of a store than the appearance of an arranged museum." As a consequence the exhibition was less attractive than it had been in the early years of its establishment.
A larger house. No. 28, Leicester Square,J was taken, in 1836, for offices and the Museum, and the transfer was made by the end of June. The house was formerly occupied by John Hunter, and contained his famous museum, now in the keeping of the Royal College of Surgeons. Of that great collection Owen and Flower were both Conservators, though not in direct succession, for Quekett's short term of office intervened; and both had charge of the national zoological collections, the one as Super- intendent, the other as Director.
* ''Life and Letters of Charles Darwin," i. 273. t " Life of Richard Owen," i. 92. X The Alhambra stands on the site.
76
TEE ZOOLOGICAL 800IETY.
The ticket, here reproduced, is of about this date ; and the small- type extract below the signature is evidence of a change with regard to the admission of persons other than Fellows on Sundays.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
ADMIT
AND PARTY,
TO THS GARDENS^ HSGENT'S PABK^
TO THZ Z^USBVM^ 28, ZiI!ICE3TSIl SQUAHE,
BY ORDER OF
Extract from Regulations. — 'Strangers may be admitted either to the Gardens or Museum, by Orders from Fellows, upon payment of Is. by each Person. — Fellows with two Companions, Persons holding named Tickets with one Comi)anion, and Honorary, Foreign and Correspond- ing Members, only can be admitted on Sundays.' — The Gardens are open from Nine o'clock, a.m. to Sunset; the Museum from Ten to Five.
Just about the time when the offices at Leicester Square were opened, an article on the Society appeared in the Quarterly Review which contained some interesting references to the Museum and the literature describing the collections:
We well remember the first public meeting for forming such an estab- lishment [the Zoological Society] in England. It seems but yesterday— how thefugaces anni have sped along ! — that Davy drew attention to the subject, and Raffles so powerfully seconded the proposition. These great men have since passed away to the house appointed for all living, but the Garden and Museum of the Zoological Society of London are not to be forgotten in the catalogue of their public services.
The author quoted the Annettes des Sciences of November, 1835, and the instructions of M. de Blainville for the voyage of LaBonite to show that the Zoological Museum possessed "many specimens wanting in the French collections " (i.e. of the Jardin des Plantes), and continued :
That these materials have not been neglected is proved by the five volumes of Proceedings already published, containing the descriptions of
J
Roman Runts.
Spangled Turkey.
Polish Fowls.
Fowls from China.
Silver Spangled Fowls.
Common Goose. Ducks.
SOME WINNERS OF THE FIRST POULTRY SHOW. (See p. 95. From the "Illustrated London News," June 21, 1845.
Plate 15.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 77
hundreds of new species, and a vast miscellany of zoological and physio- logical information set forth by some of our ablest pens.
In 1838 the Catalogue of the Mammalia in the Museum, which had been compiled by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse, was pub- lished, and went into a second edition. It is an excellent piece of work, as a short extract will show :
293. The Cryptoprocta . . From Madagascar.
Cryptoprocta ferox . . Bennett. Presented by Charles Telfair, Esq., Corresponding Member. Original of Mr. Bennett's description and figure in Trans. Zool. Soc, vol. i. p. 137, pi. xiv. ; see also Proc. Zool. Soc, 1833, p. 46.
Thus, for new or rare species the visitor had references to the literature, which he could look up on the premises if he were a Fellow. As Curator, Mr. Waterhouse was responsible for the labels ; British species were distinguished by the popular names being printed in red ink.
The Council inserted the following notice of the Museum in the Report presented to the annual meeting in 1839:
Under this head may be included a notice of the acts by which the Society, as one of the scientific associations of this country, has contributed to the advancement of zoology during the past year. The Museum is, in fact, essential to the well and profitably-conducting of the business of the evening meetings : in the Museum are performed the greater part of the dissections of the rarer animals ....;* and lastly, to the Museum the zoologist from abroad or at home resorts for the solution of his doubts and inquiries, and for the comparison of his own varieties with the rich and well-arranged series of specimens which now constitute so important and valuable a department of the property of the Society.
In the closing year of this decade the collections included 1,794 mammals, of 800 distinct species; 5,418 birds, of about 3,000 species, with rather more than the same number in reserve. Of reptiles, 1,034 specimens, and 1,260 of fishes were exhibited. The osteological collection consisted of 386 perfect skeletons, and 700 mammalian skulls: of the former there were 300 in store, and the rest were exhibited.
* Owen acted as an unpaid prosector. Under date of June 3, 1840, there is an entry in the minutes of Council to the effect that the Hunterian Professor should he allowed to dissect whenever and whatever he liked, when deaths occurred at the Gardens, and he was to have precedence over everyone else.
78 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY,
The meetings of the Committee of Science and Correspon- dence were held periodically till December 11, 1832. On January 3, 1833, new bye-laws were passed, by which the General Meetings for the transaction of scientific business were instituted. These were open to the Fellows and their friends. The first was held on January 8, when Mr. Joseph Sabine was in the chair, and papers were read by Messrs. Bennett, Broderip, Grant, and Yarrell. At the Anniversary Meeting in April the bye-laws were confirmed, and the first Publication Committee appointed. The Proceedings were carried on ; and in August, 1833, the first part of the first volume of the Transactions was published.
Numerous interesting communications were made at the scientific meetings by the foremost zoologists of the time. The following were the chief contributors : T. Bell, E. T. Bennett (61) Blyth, Broderip, Joshua Brookes, J. E. Gray (59), John Gould (74), Marshall Hall, Bryan Hodgson, Rev. W. Kirby, W. Martin (44), W. Ogilby (29), Owen (78), John Richardson, Andrew Smith, W. H. Sykes, N. A. Yigors (20), G. R. Waterhouse (29), and Yarrell (46). The figures in parentheses show the number of communications made during the decade. Owen heads the list, with anatomical work at that time unrivalled ; Martin's papers dealt chiefly with morbid anatomy; Gould's were con- cerned with birds, and included valuable field notes ; Gray's were systematic ; while those of Bennett, Vigors, and Yarrell were more general in scope. Some papers by the last-named author are worth recalling — notably those on Change of Plumage (1833, pp. 9, 54) — in that the}^ are based on observations on the animals in the Society's Menagerie. Darwin contributed some notes on ground-finches of the Galapagos Islands (1833, p. 49); and in 1839 (pp. 2-4) A. D. Bartlett put in his first paper, which dealt with the pink-footed goose and nearly allied species.
The first volume of Transactions, issued in 1835, contained forty- three memoirs, the most important being by Bell, E. T. Bennett, G. Bennett, Broderip, Gould, Lowe, MacLeay, Owen, and Rtippell. In a notice that appeared in the Annales des Sciences for June, 1835, this volume was characterised as " un recueil egalement remarquable par I'interet des memoires qui s'y publient et par le luxe avec lequel il est imprim6."
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
79
The first two of the following Tables show the total number of animals in the Menagerie, with the number of new species introduced for each year of the decade ; the character of the last table is indicated by its title :
|
Year. |
Mammals. |
Birds. |
Reptiles. |
Total. |
Mammals. |
Birds. |
Total. |
|
1831 1832 |
[■ No returns. |
— |
27 25 |
43 26 |
70 51 |
||
|
1833 |
Total |
not anal |
ysed. |
1,002 |
9 |
12 |
21 |
|
1834 |
296 |
717 |
21 |
1,034 |
12 |
26 |
38 |
|
1835 |
269 |
704 |
22 |
995 |
11 |
10 |
21 |
|
1836 |
307 |
704 |
14 |
1,025 |
9 |
8 |
17 |
|
1837 |
268 |
645 |
18 |
931 |
8 |
7 |
15 |
|
1838 |
303 |
592 |
38 |
933 |
10 |
18 |
28 |
|
1839 |
303 |
587 |
20 |
910 |
22 |
21 |
43 |
|
1840 |
352 |
524 |
18 |
894 |
14 |
11 |
25 |
Fellowship Roll, Visitors, and Finance.
|
Tear. |
No. of Fellows. |
Admissions to Gardens. |
Income. £ |
Expenditure. £ |
|
1831 |
2,048 |
258,936 |
17,663 |
15,913 |
|
1832 |
2,309 |
218,585 |
15,493 |
13,006 |
|
1833* |
2,470 |
211,343 |
14,843 |
13,154 |
|
1834 |
2,781 |
208,583 |
16,833 |
12,980 |
|
1835 |
2,941 |
210,068 |
16,033 |
13,330 |
|
1836 |
3,057 |
263,392 |
19,123 |
19,637 |
|
1837 |
3,106 |
173,778 |
13,960 |
14,350 |
|
1838 |
3,081 |
179,197 |
14,094 |
12,588 |
|
1839 |
3,038 |
158,432 |
13,431 |
13,637 |
|
1840 |
2,994 |
141,009 |
12,732 |
11,838 |
The subscription was raised to £3 for Fellows elected after December 6, 1832.
80
CHAPTER IV.
1841—1850.
Early in January, 1847, Mr. Ogilby tendered his resignation to the Council, which was accepted with reluctance. In their Annual Report they expressed their appreciation of "his dis- interested and energetic exertions on behalf of the Society throughout the long period of his official career," and their deep regret at the loss of his valuable services. At the same time the fact was recognised that they could not expect from their Secre- tary that degree of responsibility to the Society and constant attention to its affairs, which were then of vital importance, so long as the appointment was an honorary one. The matter was discussed at two Council meetings, and the following resolution was passed :
That it is expedient to supply the present vacancy in the Secretaryship by the appointment of a paid officer ; and, assuming that the whole time of the future Secretary shall be at the disposal of the Council, they con- sider that his salary cannot with propriety be fixed at less than £250 per annum.
In pursuance of this determination, Mr. David William Mitchell, F.L.S., was provisionally elected with unanimity, and the choice of the Council was ratified at the Annual Meeting.
Some minor changes also took place. In 1845 Mr. Rees, the Assistant Secretary, was succeeded by Mr. Charles S. Bompas, who performed the duties for two years, when the post was abolished. The only change of importance at the Gardens was that Professor Youatt ceased to have medical charge of the animals. Hunt became head-keeper, replacing Devereux Fuller, who entered the service of the Society in 1827.
Some anxiety was felt, at the commencement of this decade, with regard to the action of the Crown Office in dedicating to public use that part of the Park lying to the south and south- west of the South Garden. Strange rumours were current, and
PLATE V.
THE PARROT AND ELEPHANT HOUSES.
{See pp. io6, 130.)
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 81
the following paragraph appeared in the Times of January 28, 1841 :
It is stated tliat it is the intention of the members of the Zoological Gardens {sic) in the Regent's Park to remove their extensive and valuable collections of animals at the latter end of March next (the lease being expired), as the Commissioners of Woods and Forests intend raising the rent for the grant of another lease, which the members of the Society will not agree to. It is not known for the present to what locality they will be removed.
There was a long correspondence on the subject between the Council and the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, and Lord Melbourne's resignation occasioned a further delay.
Eventually it was arranged (1) that the Society should sur- render the slip of ground on the north bank of the canal which they held from the Crown — that is, the present North Garden ; (2) that they should exchange a piece of ground at the eastern end of what is now the Middle Garden, required by the Com- missioners for their proposed extension of the Broad Walk to the canal, for an equal portion of new ground at the other end of that garden ; and (3) that the ten acres of pasture ground adjoin- ing the South Garden, hitherto held from year to year, should be conceded to the Society for general purposes. In addition, permission was granted for the erection of buildings and for landscape gardening in these ten acres, and the Commissioners agreed to fence that side exposed by the opening of the Park. Refreshment Rooms were erected in 1841, and the present much larger buildings occupy the site.
In 1843 the New Carnivora Terrace was constructed. This formed part of the plan of Decimus Burton, but was not then adopted by the Council from a fear lest the animals should suffer from exposure. In the Quarterly Review of June, 1836 (p. 318), Broderip wrote :
There was one plan which, if it had not been considered impracticable on account of the health of the animals, would have had a grand effect. It was proposed by the architect to continue the terrace entirely along the southern line, and to build beneath it the carnivora dens: it would have been the finest terrace in Europe.
The walk was extended for about 150 feet from the bear pit over the roof of the dens, of which there were originally six on each side. Each cage was 24 ft. long, capable of division into
G
82 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
two or four compartments, with an inner sleeping den two yards square for every 12-ft. cage, properly ventilated, but at the same time carefully contrived to exclude cold and retain the natural heat. The only protection at first was an awning to shield the animals from the direct rays of the sun or from storms or rain in winter. In September the animals were removed to their new quarters ; and, according to the Council's Report pre- sented at the Anniversary Meeting in 1844, the effect of more air and greater exercise became visible almost immediately.
The African leopards, which were emaciated and sickly before their removal became plump and sleek in a fortnight after ; in most instances the females began to exhibit symptoms of breeding, and the appetites of all were materially increased. This phenomenon, which was not alto- gether unforeseen, produced the only two casualties among the larger feline carnivora which could be fairly attributed to the new building, and to the bold experiment which it was intended to carry out. Shortly after the removal of the animals a tigress and female puma respectively killed, and in the latter case partly devoured, their companions ; this led to an immediate increase in their allowance of food, since which no further accidents have occurred, nor has there been a single instance of sickness of any kind.
A lion died in the new terrace dens shortly before the meeting; but the Council believed the fatal disease had been contracted in the old close den, and that he " fell a sacrifice, like most of his predecessors, to the mistaken practice of confining these animals in heated rooms and small apartments."
From the Guide published in 1844 it appears that the cost of the terrace extension and the new dens was £3,000. The tenants of the new quarters were: a young lion from the Cape; lionesses, one of which was deposited by the Queen ; two tigers ; pumas, which had bred ; African and Asiatic leopards ; a spotted hyena ; striped hyenas (male and female) ; a Cape hunting dog^ a Malayan sun-bear, a Polar bear, and a Syrian bear.
In 1844 the Polar bears' den and bath were constructed. At that time it was not considered necessary to carry the bars over the top ; they were bent inwards, at what was deemed a suffi- cient height above the coping, and so they remained for some years, when there was convincing evidence that they did not fulfil the purpose for which they were intended.
The improved health of the animals in the terrace dens was.
i
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 83.
a proof that artificial heating was not so necessary as had form- erly been thought. The result was that the use of the hot- water apparatus in the giraffe house and monkey house was discon- tinued. In both the only means of heating was a common open fire ; and under this system " phthisis and catarrh, the former fatal pestilences of the monkey house almost entirely disappeared."
In 1848 a shed was built, with a paddock attached, just west of the giraffe house, for the European bison. The area was well drained, and an artificial raised surface constructed of brick- rubbish and gravel which gave no lodgment to water in unfavour- able weather. The wants of the gardener were considered, and for his benefit a small stove house for propagating plants was erected.
In the South Garden the pheasantries that now stand just east of the cattle sheds were put up ; the absence of any proper place for the conservation of tropical species of gallinaceous birds rendered this building not only desirable but indispensable. Near this an enclosure was made for wading birds. A new entrance gate from a design by the architect of the Crown Office was opened into the Broad Walk, on the site of the South Entrance. This was much appreciated by the Fellows and the public ; over 50,000 people entered the Gardens by that gate in the first nine months. At the other end of this garden the Great — or, as it is now called, the Western — Aviary was commenced.
The abandoned carnivora house in the North Garden was converted into a room for reptiles in 1849, and this was the first instance of a special building being devoted to animals of the order ; the west wing of the giraffe house was built, and the east wing begun, though it was not finished till the follow- ing year. This last work was undertaken in anticipation of the arrival of the hippopotamus.
In 1841 the donations to the Menagerie were very numerous, and the name of the President occupies a conspicuous position in the list of contributors. Mr. J. Brooke, afterwards Rajah of Sarawak, sent home five orangs, one of which was an adult female.^ In a letter to Mr. Waterhouse, read at the meeting of
* In the summer of 1904 six nearly adult orangs were shipped to France. Of these two died early in the voyage, two just before reaching Marseilles, one soon after its arrival at the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris, where the survivors were deposited, and the last two days afterwards. Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell went to
84 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
July 13, Mr. Brooke naturally expressed the hope that the animals would reach England. He was, however, quite aware of the dangers of the passage: for if they died the captain had directions to put the bodies into spirits " so that the members might have an opportunity of seeing them."
Unfortunately, not one of these anthropoids reached England alive. Mr. Brooke's donations must have greatly enriched the Museum collection, for in the following year he sent home fourteen skeletons and forty-five skulls. The Council gratefully acknowledged their indebtedness to " the zeal and good wishes of their valued correspondent."
A male giraffe was born in May, 1841. In consequence of the former failure to rear the fawn, "judicious arrangements were adopted." The omission of details is irritating ; but it is satis- factory to know that the dam immediately noticed her offspring, permitted it to take its natural nourishment, and reared it successfully. There was a justifiable note of jubilation in the Report presented on April 29, 1842: "The Society has thus happily succeeded in rearing the first giraffe which probably ever reached the adult state out of Africa, or in a state of domestication." Without being hypercritical, it may be sug- gested that the expression " adult state " is scarcely applicable to a giraffe not yet a twelvemonth old. This animal was presented to the Dublin Gardens in 1844.
The ursine colobus received in 1842 deserves mention. This fine West African monkey was described by Ogilby from skins at the scientific meeting on July 14, 1835, and the species is figured in Eraser's " Zoologica Typica," which was planned for the description and illustration of the new forms exhibited in the Gardens, but unfortunately it came to an end with the first volume. It seems to have sus^orested to D. W. Mitchell and Joseph Wolf the idea of the "Zoological Sketches,""^ for which Dr. Sclater wrote the letterpress after Mitchell's resignation.
Paris on behalf of the Society, and saw the two orangs, but their condition pre- cluded any idea of purchase. They were the largest animals of this species he had ever seen. This is probably the only shipment of orangs larger than that made by Mr. Brooke.
* Through the care of Mr. Mitchell no rare specimen has died within the last five years without previously sitting for its portrait. — Quarterly Review, Dec. 1855, p. 245.
^,^^^v_^;r-v^^'^'^
Obaysch in his Pond. (See p. 91.) From the "Illustrated London News," June 14, 1851.
Obaysch and Arab Keeper. {See p. 9i.) From the "Illustrated London Netvs," June 1, 1850.
Plate 16.
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 85
Among the birds exhibited for the first time was a roseate spoonbill, a fact overlooked when three others were purchased in August, 1870, for they are described as " the first received alive by the Society."
Jenny the orang— Lady Jane she is called in the " List " of 1844 — was a famous animal, but there were two orangs living in the Menagerie within a short period of each other and known by these names. The animal purchased on November 25, 1837, Hved till May 7, 1839, and was probably the Jenny of Broderip's article in the New Monthly Magazine of January, 1838 ; and must certainly be the orang referred to in Mrs. Owen's Diary, under date of March 11, 1838, as having been brought out for inspection by the Duchess of Cambridge, as there was such a crowd round the cage. There is, however, some confusion as to sex. Another, purchased in May, 1838, only lived till the following October. The Jenny to which the name properly belongs was bought on December 13, 1839, and proved a great attraction during its captivity, which was ended by death on October 10, 1843. This orang was a special favourite with Owen and his wife, who were constant visitors at the Gardens. In her Diary, ^ in the summer of 1842, Mrs. Owen wrote :
We saw Jenny Lave her cup of tea again. It was spooned and sipped in the most ladylike way, and Hunt, the keeper, put a very smart cap on her head, which made it all the more laughable. Hunt told me that a few days ago the Queen and Prince Albert were highly amused with Jenny's tricks, but that he did not like to put the cap on the orang, as he was afraid it might be