92 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



refusal of members to pay subscriptions in times of 

 difficulty, through which the then Council struggled with 

 unexampled perseverance. These difficulties not only 

 forbade purchases of new animals, but necessitated the 

 sale of the fine Lioness and Tigress possessed by the 

 Society, and which sale, with the contributions of a few 

 members and the always energetic and gratuitous services 

 of your officers saved it at the time from bankruptcy. 



It has been erroneously supposed by some persons 

 that Government having given a grant of £500 a year to 

 the Society, individual aid is the less necessary ; now the 

 exact contrary is the fact ; for the Government aid will, 

 no doubt, be made dependent on the interest manifested 

 by the public in support of the Society ; therefore, at no 

 time is the increase of the number of members' subscrip- 

 tions more desirable. 



The Collection did not experience the extent of loss 

 which may have been expected from the great severity of 

 the last few months, and with the exception of the Lions 

 above referred to, and some fine Parrots, no very impor- 

 tant addition has been made ; it will be found, however, 

 on inspection that though the Collection is small, it con- 

 tains a very instructive series of quadrupeds and birds, 

 including a few rare and very excellent specimens, some 

 of which have been twenty years in the Garden, and the 

 collection of fishes, &c, is a new and very interesting 

 feature. 



In the early part of the spring some manifestation of 

 thoughtless teasing of animals, and of other mischief 

 having been observed, the Council deemed it right to 

 address a temperate remonstrance to the people, calling 

 on them, as they valued their own characters, to repress 

 conduct so unworthy, the result has been that many 

 persons have exerted themselves to enforce decorum ; 

 and the effect has been very obvious in the improved 

 manners of juvenile visitors. 



The Council have had aviaries, &c, rebuilt, and have 

 to thank John Martin, Esq., one of their members, for a 

 very large contribution of timber to enable them to do 

 this work in the creditable manner in which it has been 

 executed. 



The Council cannot conclude their report without a 

 deep expression of regret at the loss of their much loved 



