110 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



pond within the Gardens. Were this proposed improve- 

 ment carried out, the Gardens would possess almost 

 unequalled capabilities for introducing and multiplying 

 the various kinds of water fowl; and, in an economic 

 point of view, this is a consideration of importance, for 

 water fowl afford a greater variety of food, and at a lower 

 cost than any other species of fowl. 



It had been the practice of the Society, for many 

 years, to dispose of the dead animals by purchase. This 

 led in some instances to dissatisfaction, and occasionally, 

 in hot weather, to total loss of the dead animal. The 

 Council have discontinued the practice, and are making 

 such arrangements as they trust will make the dead 

 animals conducive to the advantage of the Museum of 

 Natural History of the Royal Dublin Society, and of the 

 principal Museums of Comparative Anatomy in the city. 

 Within the past year the donations of dead animals to 

 the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society amounted to 

 above a hundred. With the kind attention and super- 

 vision of Messrs. Jukes and Sanders, the Council have 

 taken measures to protect, and they hope permanently to 

 preserve, the skeleton of the Plesiosaurus, a specimen of 

 the fossil world unrivalled in size and perfection. This 

 wonderful specimen of a long past age, the Society is 

 aware, was placed in the Gardens by your late lamented 

 president, Sir Philip Crampton, and at his death was 

 presented as a donation by his son, the present Sir John 

 Crampton. It now remains in the Gardens, an object of 

 great interest on its own account, as well as a fitting 

 memorial of our late president — one of the founders of 

 our Gardens, twenty-seven years since. From that period 

 until his death Sir Philip Crampton continued to take the 

 most lively interest in this Society, and in the midst of 

 continued and pressing professional occupation, gave to 

 the Gardens his unwearied attention, enjoying in return, 

 the highest gratification to him, the consciousness that in 

 so doing he was contributing to the extension of knowledge, 

 of kindly feelings, and of intellectual enjoyment among 

 all classes of his fellow-citizens. His name will be long 

 preserved among those most deserving to be remembered 

 for their contributions to science, and their good deeds to 

 society. 



Dr. Harvey, Honorary Secretary, then read the 

 following Statement of Accounts : — 



