;{(', Ni:\v \(tKK /,( )(»!.( »(,ic.\i. S()Cii;rv. 



tliL- ina>^nificencc and tlie imnit-nse popularity of the zoological 

 gardens of Western luirope. The next is- the extent and 

 splendid character of the improvements that have been made 

 in those gardens during the last twenty years. 



It is (juite germane to the subject that the third most prom- 

 inent impression shovdd also be recorded here, viz: — that, as a 

 body, the American people have as yet no adequate conception 

 of the delights and benefits to be derived from a first-class, 

 well-conducted zof)logical garden or park. 



In the case of each of the cities named, its zoological garden 

 was, beyond all question, the leading attraction to the best 

 element of its population. The zoological societies of Antwerp, 

 Amsterdam and Rotterdam each contain nearly •">, 000 members, 

 and they are the absolute owners of the beautiful grounds, the 

 palatial buildings and the rich zoological collections that, taken 

 together, constitute their gardens. The membership rolls of 

 these societies include practically all the people who make up 

 the aristocracies of intelligence, of wealth, and of birth in those 

 three cities. It is con.sidered an honor as well as an advantage 

 to belong to those zoological societies, and a well-to-do resident 

 who will not become a member is not allowed to enter the 

 gardens, even upon the payment of the stranger's fee. 



* In London the Queen is the Patroness of the Zoological 

 Society, and the Prince of Wales is \'ice-Patron. The mem- 

 bership of that Society is over ;^), 000, and the Society's Gardens 

 are, in the extent and \-ariety of their animal collections, the 

 richest in the world. 



In point of size, richness of collections and character of im- 

 provements, five of the zoological gardens visited deserve to 

 rank as first class. They are the gardens situated at London, 

 Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Berlin. The London 

 garden is the richest in animal life, its separate collections be- 

 ing sixty in number. The Berlin and Amsterdam Gardens also 

 are rich in collections. The gardens of the Royal Zoological 

 Society of Antwerp have very fine and attractive build- 

 ings, the most of which are truly palatial in character. The 

 most costly animal building in Europe is the magnificent Ele- 

 ])hant House at Berlin, which representsan outlay of 81'_'","00. 



