PREFACE. 



In presenting this book to what I believe will prove a friendly 

 public, attention may be drawn to the fact that this is the first 

 attempt to tell the story of the Zoological Society at any length. 

 Nearly seven years ago, though the project had not then taken 

 definite shape, it received the approval of Dr. Sclater, who kindly 

 gave me free access to the Society's records, and, in consequence 

 of my work on them, entrusted me with the preparation of 

 the official " Short History." Since then his successor, Dr. P. 

 Chalmers Mitchell, has kindly allowed me the same privileges 

 and increased my obligations to him by reading the proofs and 

 making valuable suggestions. 



My aim throughout has been to record facts and to give 

 authority for any statement that seemed in conflict with gener- 

 ally received opinion, without comment or the obtrusion of my 

 own views. While gathering material from every available 

 source, two considerations forced themselves upon me, and, as 

 a consequence, find expression in these pages. First, that 

 the foundation of the Zoological Society of London was 

 a natural development from the Zoological Club of the 

 Linnean Society ; and the second, that before the Zoological 

 Society was half a century old, its bionomical work practically 

 ceased owing to the increasing influence of morphographers 

 and systematists in its councils. The election of the 

 Duke of Bedford as President, the recommendations of the 

 Reorganisation Committee, and subsequent changes, mark a 

 return to lines laid down by the Charter. 



The rest of my task is a very pleasant one — to offer my 

 sincere thanks to all who have helped me in the preparation 

 of this history. I am especially grateful to the President 

 for accepting the dedication ; and to the Duchess of 

 Bedford, I am indebted for such particulars of the Woburn 

 collection as were necessary for the purposes of the book. 



