SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 47 
saw ’’ landed in the London Zoo, alive and well. ‘here he lived 
for many years, and besides being the best tempered tiger ever 
kept in those Gardens, he was also one of the largest and hand- 
somest. In connection with this instance of commendable enter- 
prise in behalf of a zoological specimen, the thought occurs that 
in such cases the label upon the object might very properly re- 
cord the fact of the exceptional difficulties which the donor sur- 
mounted in securing and transporting his gift. The knowledge 
of such circumstances means multiplied appreciation on the part 
of the public. 
The Zoological Society of London was founded in 1828, and its 
Gardens established in Regent’s Park, on 30% acres of land held 
on a lease from the Office of Woods, at a nominal annual rental. 
In 1896 the membership of the Society consisted of 3,027 Fel- 
lows, of whom 1,880 pay £5 per year, 923 have become Fellows 
for life by the payment of £30, and 177 are classed as ‘‘ dor- 
mant.’’ ‘The membership fees for the year amounted to the very 
handsome total of $37,550.40. The Society owns the building it 
occupies at No. 3 Hanover Square, valued at £25,000, and its zo- 
ological library, which is second to none, is valued at £16,629. 
The animals in the Gardens are put down at £22,128, and various 
other properties and ‘‘ accounts considered good ’’ bring its total 
assets up to £75,163. The buildings and other improvements in 
the Gardens are not taken into account in the reckoning. De- 
ducting a paltry £1,210 of liabilities, the salable property of the 
Society, without any incumbrances, has a net cash value of £71,- 
955, which, reckoned exactly, is the equivalent of $345,374 of 
our money.* 
As all zoologists know, Dr. Philip Lutley Sclater is the Secre- 
tary and chief executive officer of the Zoological Society and its 
Gardens. It is now forty years ago that he assumed active man- 
agement of the affairs of the Society, and to him, it is very safe 
to say, their present admirable condition is chiefly due. Rarely 
has it happened in this age of ‘‘ specialization ’’ that scientific 
knowledge and business ability have been so perfectly combined 
in one individual as has proven to be the case in Dr. Sclater. To 
his judgment, knowledge and industry, these pages are merely 
*This explains why the New York Zoological Society requires the moral 
and financial support of 3,000 members. If our Park is to take a position in 
the front rank of such institutions, it will need fully that number. 
