THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 225 



was the concern displayed for the better management of the 

 Society by men who till this time were practically unknown. 

 To Mr. M. D. Hill, whose action led to the discussion of grave 

 matters, these words, however, do not apply. At the Monthly 

 Meeting of June 20, 1901, he moved: 



That the Council be recommended to consider the condition of the 

 Parrot, Kangaroo, and Fish Houses, also of the Northern Aviary, as being 

 of neither scientific nor educative value, and tending to the infiictioa 

 of needless discomfort on their occupants. 



Between July 18, when the motion should have been dis- 

 cussed, and the November meeting, to which by consent it was 

 adjourned, Mr. Hill published a pamphlet, addressed to "the 

 President, Council, and Fellows of the Zoological Society of 

 London," and intended to let them know his line of argument. 

 It contained a protest against the exaltation of comparative 

 anatomy and the neglect of bionomics. Many of the " Sugges- 

 tions" have since been adopted, and some were under con- 

 sideration when the pamphlet appeared. 



Nearly a hundred members were present at the meeting of 

 November 21, but only seven hands were held up in favour of 

 Mr. Hill's motion. Nothing daunted by his defeat, he at once 

 gave notice of two other motions : 



That the Council be recommended to consider the Guide Book of the 

 Society. 



That the condition of the Vultures' Aviary, Kites' Aviary, Small Cats' 

 House, Raccoons' Cages, Gulls' Pond and Seal Pond be considered as being 

 in an unsatisfactory condition. (Afterwards withdrawn by consent.) 



With regard to the first motion, Mr. Hill had the sympathies 

 of many who had not the courage of their opinions ; for, as the 

 Field (December 21) remarked, " It is undoubtedly somewhat of 

 an anomaly that an officer of the Society should hold the pro- 

 perty of the official Garden Guide." Dr. Sclater, however, had 

 the winning cards, and the late Colonel Irby read an extract 

 from the Minutes of Council, which showed that that body 

 had formally acquiesced in the arrangement. 



It is not clear how the question was first raised ; but at 

 the Council Meeting of June 20, 1866, the Secretary " read 

 a statement as to the history and proprietorship of the 

 Garden Guide." The matter was then referred to the Garden 



