[Saunders' News-Letter, Wednesday, May 4th, 1853}. 

 ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



The annual meeting of this Society was held yesterday 

 in Dr. Ball's room, 5, Trinity College. The chair was 

 taken by Dr. Croker. 



Dr. Ball read the following Report and Statement of 

 Accounts, which were unanimously adopted : — 



' The Council of the Royal Zoological Society have, 

 in accordance with the usual practice, to report on the 

 state of the Society during the past year. They have 

 followed the judicious course adopted by the Councils of 

 the last few years, avoided debt, and endeavoured to 

 make the Society as generally useful as the means placed 

 at their disposal would admit. They have constantly 

 borne in mind how much difficulty resulted to the Society 

 in its earlier days from the expenditure of money on the 

 faith that promised subscriptions would be paid up or 

 that large outlay would produce adequate return ; but the 

 experience of 22 years has clearly shown that the existence 

 of the Society depends upon its not going beyond its 

 means. 



''The accompanying returns will show that steady 

 progress has been made, and the great objects of the 

 Society — rational recreation and instruction, have been 

 well carried out, a result of much higher importance than 

 many who do not reflect on the working of the Society 

 imagine. 



' The Gardens and grounds have been so much 

 improved as to call for the admiration of visitors who 

 have recently seen them. 



' The collection during the year has tolerably main- 

 tained its state, the losses and acquisitions being nearly 

 balanced. It contains many very fine specimens, but 

 scattered as they are through the Garden, it appears 

 small, and there is room and accommodation for a 

 much larger collection, and for its increase considerable 

 exertion is being made, in the full hope that the public 

 will provide the necessary funds to enable the Council to 

 purchase. It should constantly be recollected that the 



