LETTER 
TO THE 
COUNCIL OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
British Museum, 
March 13, 1871. 
My Lorps AnD GENTLEMEN,—I have had returned to me 
my Paper entitled ‘‘ Observations on the Record of Accessions 
to the Zoological Society,” with the following minute passed 
at the Committee of Publication, March 7 :—‘ That the Paper 
be returned to Dr. Gray, as not being upon a suitable subject 
for presentation at a Scientific Meeting of the Society.” 
I cannot understand how a paper which is a reply to obser- 
vations made by the Secretary at a previous Scientific Meet- 
ing of the Society can be a “ subject not suitable for presen- 
tation at a Scientific Meeting.” I described an animal received 
from the Gardens, with its habitat given by the Superintendent. 
The Secretary wrote a Paper denying the truth of the habitat; 
and in reply I stated that it was to be regretted that there was 
not a “ proper record” kept of the habitats, sex, age, &c. of 
the animals received into the Gardens; on which the Secretary, 
at a Scientific Meeting in January, gave account of sundr 
manuscript records and newspaper reports, and added that 
“there was a carefully revised Register of Accessions printed 
in each year’s ‘ Proceedings’ from 1862,”—concluding with, 
“‘how such a statement can have been conscientiously made in 
the face of the facts above stated, by one who was formerly a 
Vice-President of the Society, and is in the constant habit of 
referring to the ‘ Proceedings,’ I am not able to explain.” 
However incredible it may appear, the annual list in the 
‘ Proceedings,’ as any one may satisfy himself, does not contain 
the habitat, the sex, age, &c. of any of the species, and is, in 
fact, utterly useless for any scientific purpose ; and therefore I 
still think that it is not a “ proper record,” and that it is one 
capable of great improvement. 
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