90 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



been attended with considerable success ; and though 

 some mischief resulted to these structures from the 

 unexampled hard frost, yet the injury then done has been 

 repaired, and the measures taken will insure an exhi- 

 bition, in the coming season, which must prove eminently 

 attractive and instructive in this department. The 

 system of aerating the water, referred to in the last 

 report, has proved, as expected, very valuable, while its 

 attractive appearance adds interest to the pleasing 

 pictures formed in the tanks, by rock work, plants, and 

 animals. 



Another novelty has been introduced. In the large 

 slate tank, mirrors are concealed in the angles next the 

 spectators, and throw light upon the fishes from below 

 and on the rock work with which the tank is lined ; the 

 consequence is that the most minute details of the fishes 

 are rendered visible, and at some distance from the tank 

 these animals appear, as it were, to give out light, and 

 thus attract attention where they could not be seen at all 

 under the old construction. 



The Council, in the Report of last year, notified that 

 a card had been devised, with the view to comply with 

 the request of many members, that means should be 

 adopted by which the children of their families might be 

 admitted, under the care of governesses or other female 

 residents in their houses ; very few of these cards have 

 been applied for, but they may be had on application to 

 the Secretaries." The cards are in the following form, 

 which will show the conditions necessary to be complied 

 with : — 



Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, 1855. 



" To meet the wishes of many Members desirous of 

 sending their children to the Gardens, at times when 

 neither these Members nor their Wives can attend, the 

 Council have devised the following plan, viz. : — That each 

 Member shall fill up the return (as below) ; this being 

 deposited with the Superintendent at the Garden, the 

 party therein mentioned will be permitted to introduce 

 any of the Member's children whose names shall appear 

 on the Card. The objection hitherto, on the part of the 

 Council, to extend the privilege to Members in this 



* Cards are not available unless subscription be paid for the year. A fresh 

 card required by annual members each year. 



