THE 



ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF EUROPE 



CHAPTEE I 



JARDIN DES PLANTES, PARIS : DIRECTOR, PROFESSOR 

 MILNE EDWARDS 



This Garden, the father of Zoological Gardens, is the 

 oldest of the Zoological Gardens of Europe, 



Many of the greatest naturalists have been con- 

 nected with the Jardin des Plantes, and have studied 

 within its gates. 



The botanical portion is more than one hundred 

 years older than the zoological. It was founded in 

 1626 by Louis XIIL, who bought a plot of unculti- 

 vated ground in Saint- Victor, twenty-four acres in 

 extent, and laid out a flower-garden and built a little 

 greenhouse upon it. Fagon, the King's doctor, Gaston 

 of Orleans, Colbert, and Tournefort all helped it 

 along, and caused the Garden to grow in extent and 

 popularity. 



A museum of natural history was established, and 

 eleven professors appointed in mineralogy, botany, 

 two courses of zoology, human and animal anatomy, 

 geology, chemistry, etc. A library was formed in 



1 



