114 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



appreciate the advantages they afford, and thus that one 

 great aim of the Society has been accomplished. 



The Council wish that, in turning from the humbler 

 ranks to those who, by wealth and education, are placed 

 above them, they could report with equal truth of 

 increased interest felt, or increased support afforded, by 

 the wealthy classes of our metropolis. But the 

 Treasurer's balance-sheet shows no gratifying evidence 

 under this head. On the contrary, although thirty-seven 

 new members have joined the Society during the financial 

 year, yet so many more of our old members and sub- 

 scribers have ceased (or omitted) to pay their subscriptions, 

 that the funds received from subscriptions and entrance 

 fees are less by £29 12s. than in the previous year. It is 

 much to be regretted that in a great and wealthy city like 

 Dublin so few from the upper ranks are found willing to 

 contribute an annual pound to an institution that confers 

 on a large number of the poorer classes so much instruc- 

 tion and enjoyment, and that freely opens its doors to all 

 public schools and industrial associations. The whole 

 income of the Society last year, from every source, was 

 £1,854 5s. lid. Of this sum only £233 accrued from 

 members' subscriptions and entrance fees, while 

 £562 3s. lOd. was received from penny admissions. 



Many in the upper ranks probably take little personal 

 interest in your collections, which they rarely visit, and, 

 perhaps, think scarcely worthy of a visit. But whether 

 wealthy citizens of Dublin individually care for the 

 recreation afforded by zoological collections or not, they 

 ought not to be indifferent to an institution that gives 

 pleasure and instruction to 135,000 of the poorer classes 

 of their fellow-citizens, and which only needs augmented 

 funds to become still more attractive than it is, and to 

 open its teaching to a still wider and constantly expanding 

 circle. They ought to remember that heavy annual 

 expenses are entailed on the Society in keeping up, as 

 well as in feeding and housing, the collection of animals. 

 Last year's balance-sheet shows an expenditure in 

 1859-60:— 



In purchases of animals and expenses 



of carriage ... ... ...£363 6 5 



In provisions ... ... ... 688 12 6t 



In buildings and repairs, and in garden 



improvements ... ... ... 41813 5i 



