6o The Irish Naturalist. March, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 28 — The Annual General iMeeting was held in the lecture 

 theatre of the Royal Dublin Society, the Rt. Hon. Jonathan Hogg 

 (President) in the chair. 



The report of the Council was read by the Hon. Secretary (Dr. R. F. 

 SCHARFF),who stated that the admissions to the Gardens during 1907 were 

 260,666, and the receipts ;^4.o74 9^-. 4/., as against 188,422 and ^^2, 490 <^s. Sd. 

 respective!}' for 1906. 



It is with great satisfaction that the Council have to announce this 

 enormous increase of the number of visitors to the Gardens during the 

 past year, with a corresponding considerable addition in the receipts at 

 the gate. That in spite of the bad weather visitors came in such 

 enormous numbers to the Gardens, must be ascribed largely to the 

 influence of the Exhibition, which brought such great flocks of 

 excursionists from all parts of Ireland, England, and Scotland. 



In the early part of the summer, on the occasion of the opening of the 

 new Carnivora House, the Council gave a Garden Party in the Society's 

 grounds, at which the Lord Lieutenant honoured the Council by his 

 presence. This gave many members and their friends an opportunity 

 of inspecting the recent improvements carried out b}- the Council. 



Although there can be no doubt that the Dublin people are proud 

 of their Zoological Gardens, the Council wish to draw attention to the 

 fact that there was a decrease in the amount received from subscriptions. 

 A smaller number of members joined the vSociety last year than in 

 previous ones, the falling-off being principalh- in life members, of wlioni 

 only nine joined during 1907. 



Prof. A. F. Dixon, who has for several years past undertaken the post 

 of Honorary Treasurer, retires The Council feel assured that the Society 

 will share with them the regret which they feel at losing his services. 

 The}' nominate Dr. E. INIacDowel Cosgrave for the vacant post. 



The vSuperiutendent of the Gardens, Mr. Thomas Hunt, has retired 

 from the post which he occupied since Febiuary, 1890. During the 17 

 j-ears that Mr. Hunt held the post he had on several occasions received 

 the Council's acknowledgment and thanks for his prompt and courageous 

 action in times of emergency, while his kindly disposition earned for him 

 the esteem of the Keepers who served under him. It was, therefore, 

 with regret that the Council accepted his resignation 



Nearly 200 candidates applied for the post, and it was with some 

 difficulty that a selection was made among the applicants. As Captain 

 L. C. Arbuthnot brought forward testimony of possessing special qualifi- 

 cations and experience, the Council appointed him Superintendent ; and 

 he took over the duties on the ist December last. 



As in previous years, the duties of the Honorary Secretary during his 

 absence from Dublin were carried on by the Honorary Vice-President, Mr. 



