14 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



almost without exception, marked by the strictest de- 

 corum, and that their desire of enjoying the instructive 

 recreation the collection affords, proceeds from its in- 

 herent value, as no adventitious means, by music or 

 otherwise, were used during the past year for drawing 

 persons thither. The Council have next to observe, that 

 the Evening Meetings of the Society have continued to 

 prove attractive, and have been attended by a larger 

 auditory than could be conveniently accommodated in 

 the Theatre of the Royal Dublin Society. At these 

 meetings lectures have been given by Sir P. Crampton, 

 Bart., Dr. Houston, Professor Kane, Mr. Ball, Dr. 

 Beatty, Professor Hart, Professor Harrison, and Dr. 

 Corrigan. Arrangements have been made for following 

 up the instruction thus given, by more regular courses at 

 the Gardens, the first of which has been kindly under- 

 taken by Dr. Woodroffe, a gentleman whose ability in 

 making the important study of Physiology popular, has 

 long been known and highly valued in Cork. The Council, 

 with the object of furnishing to those whose professional 

 or other avocations employ them during the afternoon 

 an opportunity of acquiring useful and pleasing infor- 

 mation, and at the same time with a desire not to 

 nterfere with the hours occupied by other scientific 

 lectures, have fixed on the early hour of nine o'clock a.m. 

 for those at the gardens; and they trust that the course 

 about to commence on* 5th May, will open a source of 

 much instruction, and prove equally healthful to body 

 and mind. The Council have further to report, in refer- 

 ence to matters of an educational nature, that some of 

 their members having formed a fund for the purpose of 

 offering premiums to persons making drawings from 

 nature, it was determined to offer this fund to be com- 

 peted for by pupils in the schools of the Royal Dublin 

 Society ; and a communication to that effect having been 

 made, the Council were requested, as a preliminary 

 measure, to grant admission to the Gardens, and oppor- 

 tunities of study to such of the pupils as may desire to 

 draw from living animals. This the Council at once 

 acceded to, and tickets have been issued to eleven of 

 the pupils recommended by the Committee of Fine Arts 

 of the Royal Dublin Society, and to three of the masters 

 in its schools, while the original proposition still remains 



Since the Report was read some of these Lectures have heen given, and have proved 

 very attractive. The Course will he proceeded with on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 



