[Saunders' News-Letter, Wednesday, May 8, 1850.] 

 ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



The annual meeting of the Royal Zoological Society 

 took place at the Gardens, Phoenix Park, at two o'clock 

 on yesterday, 



J. Owen, Esq., in the Chair. 



The following report was read by Robert Ball, LL.n., 

 Hon. Secretary:— 



" The members of the Royal Zoological Society are 

 probably not prepared to receive the congratulations of 

 the Council in their report at the termination of the 19th 

 year of the Society, yet such congratulation is herewith 

 tendered, for it affords the Council great gratification to 

 be enabled to hand over their trust to the Society, in the 

 efficient state it is at present. That they do not take an 

 erroneous view of the subject members will admit, when 

 they recollect that several years since the Society was 

 encumbered with much debt ; that considerable outlay 

 was necessary in building, gardening, &c, and that before 

 these difficulties could be overcome the period of national 

 distress commenced (which it is earnestly hoped has now 

 terminated) the opinion of many friends of the Society 

 naturally was, that it must dissolve, or at least close its 

 Garden ; however, a few that were more sanguine deter- 

 mined on endeavouring to preserve it ; and while they 

 yielded under the pressure upon them, only bent to rise 

 again when that pressure was removed. By a rigid 

 economy, expenses were curtailed, and by much industry 

 the Garden has been kept steadily advancing, so that now 

 there is nothing required for buildings or garden ; while 

 the deficiency in the stock of animals, occasioned by 

 deaths during the last two years, can be readily made up 

 if a returning prosperity induces the public again to give 

 to the Society the support it formerly experienced. While 

 this want of a large stock of animals is acknowledged, it 

 should be recollected that the Society still possesses what, 

 in a smaller space than their Garden, would be considered 

 a considerable menagerie, and that in it are to be found 



