Report, 1840. 3 



on opening the Gardens during the evenings of summer, 

 after working hours, at one penny each individual; the 

 effect of this extension can only be proved by experience. 



' The Council refer with much gratification to the 

 success of the free course of lectures which have been 

 delivered at their instance at the evening meetings in the 

 Theatre of the Royal Dublin Society, kindly lent for the 

 purpose. They have, no doubt, contributed much to 

 spread a taste for zoology, and with a view of following 

 out the objects of these meetings, the Council have effected 

 preliminary arrangements for giving a morning course 

 of lectures in the Gardens of an elementary and 

 instructive character ; these lectures are to be open to 

 members and subscribers, with two companions each. 

 The hour chosen is to meet the convenience of persons 

 who are confined by business after breakfast, and it will 

 afford to such individuals healthful exercise and useful 

 recreation. The Council, with a view of having occasional 

 lectures in the open air on fete days, have caused an 

 amphitheatre on a very simple plan, but capable of 

 accommodating about 500 persons, to be constructed. 

 They have commenced a series of experimental fish ponds, 

 from which, when fully carried out, they hope much 

 benefit will arise. The ponds already constructed have 

 been amply stocked with carp, tench, rudd, and minnows, 

 from the fine lake at Abbeyville, which Mr. Bachelor 

 kindly permitted to be fished for the purpose. 



' The Council in reference to the mortality of animals 

 in the Gardens, while they have to acknowledge its extent 

 in numbers, have to state that the loss of property it 

 has occasioned to the Society has, perhaps, been less than 

 usual, and is much less than the ordinary losses suffered 

 by other similar institutions. The very unexpected death 

 of five small animals, which to all appearance were a few 

 hours before in rude health, gave rise to serious inquiry 

 on the part of the Council, but the cause of death was 

 not discovered. The most important loss the Society 

 sustained was that of a pair of leopards, which unex- 

 pectedly sickened and died. As the disease they laboured 

 under presented the general appearance of that called 

 distemper in dogs the other animals were removed from 

 the Repository, which was, and is, shut up for the 

 purpose of whitewashing, &c, in the hope of destroying 

 any infectious matter that may exist. The Council, in 



