286 Zoological Proceedings of Societies. 



industry and manufactures, are of great 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 scientitic establishments 

 either for teaching or elucidating Zoology, and no public mena- 

 geries or collections of living animals, where their nature, proper- 

 ties, and habits, may be studied. In almost every other part of 

 Europe, except in the Metropolis of the British Empire, some- 

 thing of this kind exists ; but though richer than any other coun- 

 try 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 dead 

 specimens and introducing living animals, we have as yet attempted 

 little and done almost nothing; and the student of Natural His- 

 tory, or the philosopher who wishes to examine animated nature, 

 has no other resource but that of visiting and profiting by the 

 magnificent institutions of a neighbouring and a rival country. It 

 is io be hoped that this opprobrium to our age and nation may 

 disappear, and there can scarcely be a better moment for an 

 undertaking of this kind than the present : a state of profound 

 peace, increasing prosperity, and overflowing wealth, when the 

 public mind is prepared to employ its activity and direct its re- 

 sources to new objects and enterprizes. 



*' 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 objects should be the in- 

 troduction 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 

 diff'erent classes and orders, so as to afibrd a correct view of the 

 animal kingdom at large in as complete a series as may be prac- 

 ticable, and at the same time point out the analogies between the 

 animals already domesticated, and those which are similat in cha- 

 racter upon which the first experiments were made. 



" To promote these objects — 1st. A piece of ground should be 



