Report, 1847. 47 



to mention the death of the late superintendent, Mr. Scott, 

 whose illness for some months delayed the reductions and 

 alterations, tending to lower the expenditure, which they 

 wished to effect, and have since carried out. On his 

 death they made no new appointment, hut placed the 

 collector, Mr. Buckley, in charge; and discontinued the 

 carter and gate-keeper, replacing the latter by a man 

 fitted to act as clerk, take charge of the garden in 

 Mr. Buckley's necessary absence, and serve as a watch- 

 man. The paid staff of the Society now consists of 

 Mr. Buckley, collector and acting superintendent ; 

 J. Lowe, clerk, gate-keeper and watchman ; two keepers 

 and two gardeners, being only six individuals, at the 

 wages of £3 lis. a week; with this staff the garden can 

 be maintained usefully, and kept in its present excellent 

 order. 



Your Council have to report the very unexpected 

 death of the Elephant : he had, for some months, thriven 

 remarkably, but was suddenly seized by inflammatory 

 disease, which carried him off in a few hours ; from 

 careful investigation it would appear to have been one of 

 those accidents to which all animals are liable. With this 

 exception, the amount of mortality has been very small, 

 attributable to improved ventilation and a less than usual 

 dependence on artificial heat. The animals generally 

 have thriven remarkably. The Giraffe continues to grow 

 rapidly, and has now, for nearly a year, occupied his new 

 house (the Albert Tower), which proves to be very well 

 adapted for him ; he is considered, by competent persons, 

 the finest animal of the kind in confinement at present, 

 and is probably now worth £800. Your Council ask: is 

 this noble donation to be returned to the donors, with an 

 intimation that Ireland does' not subscribe, annually, one 

 half the amount of this one gift of theirs? 



Your Council felt it incumbent on them to postpone 

 the usual promenade on the 1st of May, in consequence 

 of the lamented illness of His Excellency the Lord 

 Lieutenant, who, personally, has long taken much interest 

 in the Society. 



The garden is now in better order than it has ever 

 been before : the growth of the shrubs, and extraordinary 

 quantity of blossom now upon them, give a promise of 

 exceeding beauty for the present month. By the kindness 

 of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, who have 



