132 ORIGINAL MEMBEKS. 



and divided into departments under tlie Sijpevintendentj and 

 various other reforms were introduced. 



In 1874, when his brother (then the Kight Hon. George 

 Sclater-Booth, M.P., and after-^ards Lord Basing) accepted 

 office in Mr. Disraeli's administration as President of the 

 Local Government Board, Mr. Sclater became his private 

 secretary^ a position Avhich he occu])ied for two years. But 

 when subsequently offered a permanent place in the Civil 

 Service he declined it, because he could not make up his 

 mind to give up his dearly loved work in natural history. 

 His most engrossing duties have been in connexion with 

 the Zoological Society of London, to which, as principal 

 executive Officer, he has, of course, devoted most of his 

 time. It is conceded by all that its affairs prospered 

 well under his direction. The number of Fellows of the 

 Society, about 1700 in 1859, increased to over 3000. The 

 income of the Society, which in 1858 was a little over 

 .£14,000, rose to £30,000. Besides this, nearly all of the 

 principal buildings in the Society^s Gardens were rebuilt 

 and fitted up with every sort of modern conveniences for 

 animals. The old Office-building (No. 11 Hanover Square) 

 was sold, and was replaced by a much larger and more 

 convenient house (No. 3 Hanover Square) in the same 

 vicinity. A debt of £12,000 was paid off, and the house 

 became the freehold property of the Society without any 

 sort of incumbrance. The first floor of the Society^s house 

 is devoted to the accommodation of a large and very valuable 

 zoological library, under the care of a Librarian and his 

 assistant, and is the constant resort of the working zoologists 

 of the metropolis. This library had been almost entireh' 

 accumulated since 1859. 



The publications of the Society, consisting of ' Pro- 

 ceedings,'' ' Transactions, ' ' Lists of Animals ' (of which 

 eight editions have been published), the ' Garden Guide,' 

 and the ' Zoological Record,' are all issued from this office, 

 Avith almost unfailing regularity. The Scientific Meetings of 

 the Society are held here during the eight months oi: the 

 Scientific Session, and an abstract of their proceedings is 



