ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



The Annual Meeting was held in the Board Room of 

 the Royal Duhlin Society House, at two o'clock, 3rd 

 May, 1842, the President, Sir Philip Crampton, Bart., in 

 the chair. 



Mr. Ball, Secretary, read the following Report and 

 Abstract of Accounts : — 



" The Council of the Royal Zoological Society have 

 to report to its members on their management of its 

 affairs during the past year, the twelfth of its existence. 

 In doing so, while they cannot but complain of the 

 inadequacy of public aid, and the difficulty of collecting 

 subscriptions for the extension of the Society's collection, 

 they feel it a matter of high gratification that the great 

 object of the Institution (the spread of Zoological in- 

 formation) has been of wider extent than in any previous 

 year ; for they conceive that the true test of the Society's 

 usefulness is to be found in the number of the visitors to 

 its collection and attendants at its scientific meetings, 

 and in these two points it will be seen by tables accom- 

 panying this report, that the Society has been successful. 

 Though the majority of visitors to the Gardens were 

 admitted at the low rate of one penny, yet the Council 

 believe that this, so far from lessening the value and 

 importance of the Society, shows it forth in a higher 

 position than hitherto, as a valuable aid to the enlighten- 

 ment of the people, and a powerful contributor to the 

 maintenance of the improved and temperate habits now 

 so happily prevalent. The Council would dwell on the 

 value of their collection and Gardens, both in educational 

 points, and as affording useful and healthful amusement, 

 but they feel that the principle they would urge, is 

 acknowledged by all enlightened persons, and is each 

 session receiving the increased attention of Parliament. 



The Council have great pleasure in stating, that the 

 admission of the working classes at a cheap rate has been 

 duly appreciated, that their interest in the collection seems 

 daily to increase, that their conduct in the Gardens is, 



