Natural History in London. 255 



and a more detailed list, accompanied with scientific notices of all the 

 species, is in preparation. 



" The increase in the number of subjects in the collection during the last 

 year has been considerable, and many of the additions have been of the 

 utmost importance to science. The whole of these, with a few exceptions, 

 have been presented by the friends of the Society. A detailed list of these 

 donations, which are too numerous for insertion in this report, is laid upon 

 the table; a reference to the contents of which will evince that the spirit 

 of liberality, which laid the foundations of this already valuable collection, 

 has not decreased. 



"A very extensive correspondence has been established with naturalists of 

 foreign countries, and persons resident in distant parts, who are anxious to 

 promote the objects of the Societ3^ Through these channels many 

 valuable acquisitions have been already received ; and it is expected that 

 much of novelty and interest will continually pour in to increase the 

 attractions of the Museum and Menagery. 



" The Garden in the Regent's park is the principal source of attraction 

 and of expense. The nature of the soil, which consists of a thick un- 

 grateful clay, increases the cost of every work. The health of the animals 

 requires that oak floors be raised above the surface of the ground ; and it is 

 necessary to lay a thick substratum of dry material under every enclosure 

 and every walk. These disadvantages are however amply counterbalanced 

 by its immediate vicinity to the town. The Council have, notwithstanding 

 the nature of the soil, endeavoured to give to thfe garden all the attractions 

 which good cultivation and an abundance of flowers can afford : and they 

 have to return their thanks for the very liberal supplies for this purpose 

 which they have occasionally received from the Horticultural Society. 

 The resort to the garden has far surpassed the most sanguine expectations 

 of the Council; 112, 226 persons have visited it during the last year." 



Nothing can be more striking, and at the same time more gratifying, than 

 the circumstance of the gardens being visited by such an immense number 

 of persons. We hope this circumstance will, in time, lead to the whole of 

 the Regent's Park l^eing arranged as a Zoological and Botanical Garden, 

 and thrown open to all the public, rich and poor. A very small tax on 

 each of the parishes composing the metropolis, regulated according to 

 distance, population, &c., would suffice for this, and we are sure, would 

 be most readily paid. We refer to what we have said on the subject of 

 public gardens, in former Numbers of this publication and of the Gardener^s 

 Magazine. 



In naming both the animals and plants in the gardens, we would suggest 

 the use of small cast-iron frames, in which a card containing the name, 

 natural order, native country, and any characteristic fact respecting the 

 uses or history of each animal or plant should be placed with a glass over it, 

 as in the botanic garden at Glasgow. (See Gard. Mag., vol. v. p. 344.) We 

 consider the proper naming of the animals and plants as a matter of very great 

 importance to the public. Something besides the mere name ought to be 

 added to the card of every animal and of every plant, in order to excite 

 interest and lead to farther research. It is not enough that a catalogue 

 may be referred to, great numbers will look at the animal and the card, 

 who will not have it in their power, or who will not take the trouble, to 

 look at the catalogue; and one historical or descriptive fact, presented to the 

 mind along with the view of the animal itself, is worth the reading of many 

 others to a beginner, because it makes an impression never to be forgotten. 

 We earnestly hope the Council will take this matter fully into consider- 

 ation, in all its various bearings. 



The time may perhaps come when it will be found necessary to render 

 Greenwich Park a similar Zoological and Botanical Garden, for the use of 

 that part of the metropolis. The thing, like similar things on the Con- 



s 4 



