214 THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF EUROPE 



A few weeks later he Avas elected on the Managing 

 Committee, and attended several of the early meetings. 

 It is evident that his advice was much relied on, and 

 largely served to shape the early policy of the new 

 Society. At the first meeting at which he was jDresent 

 (July 8, 1830) he urged the necessity of having a plan 

 of the proposed Gardens prepared by a competent 

 person, and he was authorized by the Committee to 

 ascertain whether Mr, Decimus Burton, Architect to 

 the Zoological Society of London, would place his 

 services at the disposal of the Society in Dublin. 

 This Mr. Burton ultimately agreed to do for a fee 

 of £75. 



Some slight idea may be obtained from Mr. Burton's 

 report of the condition of the ground at the time it was 

 allotted to the Society. He says in regard to this : 

 ' The ground on the other side ' (evidently referring to 

 the constabulary side of the lake) ' is enclosed with a 

 stone wall, but the line it takes is very irregular. 

 The upper or eastern portion of the site is a paddock 

 nearly level, at about 26 feet average height above 

 the surface of the water. In this paddock are two 

 groups of fine timber trees and an orchard. The slope 

 next the water is thickly covered with well -grown 

 underwood, principally thorny. The original Ijuildings 

 consist of a substantial dwelling-house, an outhouse or 

 stable, and a small cottage. The Society have had 

 erected, but in a temporary manner, a wooden building 

 for the reception of the deer, nylgais, etc., alcove 

 seats, bear pits, etc., and lately they have finished, in 

 a better style, an otter place. There is an old ice-well 

 in the rounds.' 



