CHAPTER YII 



THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, ROTTERDAM DIRECTOR, 

 DR. BUTTIKOFER 



The idea of having a Zoological Garden in Rotterdam 

 owes its origin to three amateur zoologists. One of 

 these enthusiasts, a station-master on the Holland 

 Railway, took a small plot of land on lease, and started 

 a collection of animals and birds. Some years after a 

 number of wealthy citizens subscribed 300,000 guilders, 

 with which they bought thirty-four acres of land, half of 

 which they laid out as a garden, where they built 

 several houses for animals and birds. May 1, 1857, is 

 to be considered the date of the foundation of these 

 Gardens. 



In 1863 the remaining ground was laid out and 

 added to the Gardens. The director, Mr. P. H. Martin, 

 originally a renowned lion-tamer, who had been in 

 office since the foundation of the Gardens, resigned, 

 and Mr. A. A. van Bemmelen succeeded him. 



At frequent intervals additions were made to the 

 number of buildings, including a large plant house 

 170 feet long, costing 45,000 guilders. 



In 1874 a 5 per cent, loan of 500,000 guilders 

 was contracted, and about twenty-live acres of land 

 bought at a cost of 230;000 guilders. A splendid 



