13 



has brought together as materials for the Monograph 

 which he is preparing, the Council have found, as they 

 believe, the most extraordinary special Museum which has 

 yet appeared in any country. The fame which Mr. Gould 

 has deservedly acquired by his Works on European, 

 Australian and Asiatic Ornithology, has already attached 

 to his present undertaking the universal attention of Na- 

 turalists who cultivate this particular branch of science, 

 and there is every reason to believe that no more acceptable 

 object of this kind can be offered to them than an oppor- 

 tunity of visiting and studying this unequalled Collection. 



The Building which has been erected for the reception 

 of Mr. Gould's Collection during the next six months is now 

 nearly completed, and the whole of the arrangements will 

 probably be matured by the 15th of May. The remuneration 

 to Mr. Gould for exhibiting this valuable property during 

 the period above mentioned, and for erecting the Building, 

 will be secured by a payment which he is to receive from 

 Visitors who are not Members of the Society. This pay- 

 ment is to be sixpence from each person. 



Fellows of the Society accompanied by the two friends, 

 ■whom they have the power of introducing personally into 

 the Gardens, will have admission without payment. It is 

 believed that the low charge which Mr. Gould has fixed 

 will be cheerfully paid by the public, and will yet be suffi- 

 cient to check the overwhelming crowd which might be 

 attracted to the room if it was open without any restriction. 



2. Menagerie. 



The annals of the Menagerie w ill perhaps never again 

 present so remarkable an event as that which has peculiarly 

 characterized the interval since the last Anniversary. 



At that time there still existed some doubt as to the 

 possibility of rivalling the operations of the Roman Circus 

 by the transport of a living Hippopotamus from the banks 

 of the Nile. It happened fortunately for this Society that 

 no unforeseen accident intervened to mar the arrangements 

 which were made for effecting this operation with success. 

 The constant interest, activity, and skill with which the 

 Hon. C. A. Murray, notwithstanding the serious cares of 

 his official position, promoted the objects of the Society in 

 Egypt, have placed the Institution under an obligation to 



