8 WILD ANIMALS. 



fishes can be seen and studied alive. This is, perhaps, the largest 

 menagerie in the whole world, and every part of the globe has been 

 laid under contribution to make it as perfect as possible; it is 

 certain that such a gathering together of the largest mammalia of 

 the world in pairs was never seen elsewhere, nor has such a collec- 

 tion ever been approached by other cities. Everything is done to 

 keep the specimens in as fine a condition as they would be if they 

 had not been deprived of their freedom, and to surround themj 

 as far as possible, by the same circumstances that would attend 

 them in their wild state. No wonder, therefore, that it is one of 

 the favourite attractions of a city noted for its attractions, and one 

 of the sights that remains the longest impressed on the memory of 

 travellers from other climes, and of excursionists who visit it by 

 hundreds during the holiday seasons. 



The Zoological Society of London was first instituted in 1826, 

 and the gardens opened to the public in 1828, under the auspices 

 of Sir Humphrey Davy, Sir Stamford Eaffles, and other eminent 

 men, " for the advancement of zoology, and the iritroduction and 

 exhibition of the animal kingdom alive or in a state of preservation." 

 It is a question whether even the most sanguine of its founders 

 ever contemplated the society attaining the popularity it has done, 

 or that it would ever exhibit specimens of such rare and curious 

 animals as have been, or are now to be found in its care. 



That it must require unceasing eflForts to keep renewing such a 

 varied assortment is obvious, for in this climate, in confinement, 

 and under such altered circumstances, the animals must succumb 

 to diseases unknown to them in their wild state, to say nothing of 

 those dying through accidental injuries and age. Mr. J. B. Sutton 

 is the authority for the information that the animals die frequently 

 from some unknown disease, but half of them are the victims of 

 lung disease, bronchitis, or pleurisy. " The larger carnivora — 

 lions, tigers, and leopards — are exceedingly vulnerable to attacks 

 of pneumonia, and bears frequently die from this affection, due to 

 the suppuration of the consolidated portion of the lungs. Pleurisy 

 is exceedingly common among them, as it is in the domestic cat. 

 This disease alone has caused the society the loss of several very 

 fine animals." 



