68 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



from persons who have never contributed to its increase. 

 The fact is, that the collection is large and interesting 

 compared with the narrow income of the Society. This 

 income barely kept the Society alive through those years 

 of distress, when, even had it been larger, the propriety 

 of congregating animals consuming human food may 

 have been questioned. The Council have recently been 

 desirous of increasing the collection, and have made 

 arrangements for doing so, but at present there are no 

 suitable animals in the ordinary market for sale, within a 

 short time the Antwerp, London, and other Zoological 

 Institutions having purchased the entire. The Society 

 and the public may now consider that the foundation of 

 the Institution is so complete, that in future the extent of 

 the collection will be only limited by the pecuniary 

 support the Society receives. 



" The Council have pleasure in directing attention to 

 the return of visitors which shows a total of 66,160 

 persons, a number whose educational recreation furnishes 

 no light claim on those who value the intellectual welfare 

 of their fellows. No Institution in the British Dominions, 

 unsupported by Government grants, ministers so much 

 to the public benefit, either altogether freely, or at a 

 nominal charge. The Council endeavoured to have a 

 course of lectures delivered by eminent members of the 

 Society, but from various causes they were unable to 

 effect a satisfactory arrangement. They, however, hope 

 that their endeavour will secure a brilliant course next 

 winter. The Council are happy to say that a large 

 number of the Corporation were enrolled in the lists of 

 the Society, that the losses by death, resignation, or 

 removal for non-payment of subscription have been 

 comparatively few, while the members who have been 

 enrolled in the Society or rejoined it, have been numerous, 

 as will appear from the annexed return ; forty-five 

 members and subscribers have been added to the roll, 

 sixteen have been removed, giving an increase on the 

 year of twenty-nine. Three annual members have com- 

 pounded for life by paying £8 each. 



" It having been represented that the practice of 

 holding a promenade on the 1st of May was inconvenient, 

 owing to the coldness of the weather, it was postponed 

 until the 10th, that day being the anniversary of the 

 foundation of the Society. Several persons having since 

 stated that while the present weather holds, they will not 



