SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF ANDREW DOWNS—PIERS. cill 
place soon became a most popular resort for the curious and for those 
students and lovers of natnre and good fellowship who found keen 
pleasure in the proprietor’s company, and many anecdotes are con- 
nected with the naturalist’s life in this lovely spot. The Prince of 
Wales, now King Edward, paid a visit to the place when in Halifax 
in 1860, as did nearly every notable person who came this way, 
including Prince Jerome Bonaparte, King Victor Emmanuel’s daughter, 
Lord and Lady Falkland, Capt. Sir Richard Grant, and many others. 
In 1864 Downs visited Europe, being complimented by a free pas- 
sage across the Atlantic in one of Her Majesty’s war vessels, the 
“Mersey,” Capt. Caldwell. On this occasion he carried with him 
several living specimens, two cases of mounted birds and a stuffed 
moose, which he presented to the London zoological garden. In 
Europe he received courtesies from many scientific men. 
On his return to Halifax his zoological garden was much improved, 
and the following extract from an article by his friend Charles Hallock, 
author of “The Fishing Tourist,” and founder and proprietor of 
“ Forest and Stream,” graphically describes the place in these, its best 
days* :— 
‘“‘T recall his premises as if it were but vesterday. From a rustic 
gate in the enclosing hedge a gravelled road wound under interlacing 
trees to a Gothic cottage over-hung with woodbines and honeysuckles, 
and surmounted at all points with antlers of elk and moose. This 
was at once the residence of the proprietor and the outpost of the 
realm. Beside the porch were bird houses perched on poles, whose 
chattering tenants hovered round, entering and departing at will. 
Pigeons of all sorts tumbled and circled overhead, and strange noises 
were emitted from a neighboring copse. Here and there were rude 
boxes of cocoons of many varieties, kept for experiments. Not far 
from the door a pair of whale’s ribs and some huge vertebra lay upon 
the lawn. 
“ Entering the house by the main hall-door ajar, we find it alive with 
the more delicate species of songsters. The parlors and reception 
* “The First American Zoo,” by Chartes Hallock ; Natwre, New York, Vol 1, No- 
10 (Jan. 4, 189°), pp. 130-131. The reader is also referred to another article by Mr. 
Hallock, ‘‘ Andrew Downs, F. R-8S. [error for c. M. z S.], Naturalist,” in Forest and 
Stream, New York, Vol. 53, No. 10 (S pt. 2, 1899), p. 181, with portrait, p. 182. In both 
cf these papers he strongly appeals for public recognition cf Downs as the founder of 
the first zoological garden in America. 
