REPORT UPON A TOUR OF INSPKCTION OF THE 

 ZOOLOGICAIv GARDENS OF EUROPE.* 



lo the Ojficcrs and Members of the 



New York Zooi.ociic.vi, Society. 



Gentletnen: — In accordance with instructions received from 

 the Executive Committee, I spent the months of July and 

 August in Europe, for the purpose of inspecting and studying 

 in detail the best zoological gardens of England and the Con- 

 tinent. Upon tho.se investigations T now have the honor to 

 suliniit the following brief report. 



The most important objects of the tour were as follows: — 



1 . To become acquainted with the most recent improve- 

 ments and developments in the care of animals in captivity ; 



2. To .study the admini.strative methods of the best gardens 

 in existence ; 



o. To study the general relations existing between incor- 

 porated zoological societies and the public, and 



4. To learn by actual observation what are the mistakes to 

 be avoided in the creation of a great zoological garden. 



My observations and studies embraced fifteen zoological 

 gardens, .situated in the following localities: — 



In E'lgland, 1, situated at London ; 



In Belgium, 1, " "Antwerp; 



In Holland, o, " "Rotterdam, The Hague and 



Amsterdam ; 



In Germany, 8, " "Hanover, Hamburg, Berlin, 



Dresden, Leip.sic, Frankfort 

 and Cologne ; • 



In France, '1, " " Paris. 



General Impressions. — Out of the multitude of impres- 

 sions left upon the mind of the observer after having made 

 this tour, two or three stand forth .so prominently as to over- 

 shadow all others. The first is— the great number, the size, 



*Read at the annual meeting of the Society, January 5, 1897. 



