58 



The Irish Naturalist. 



May, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 21. — The Annual General Meeting was held in the Royal 

 Dublin Society's Lecture Theatre, the President (Sir Frederick Moore) 

 in the chair. The Hon. Secretary (Prof. A. Francis Dixon, Sc.D.) 

 presented the report and accounts and moved their adoption, which was 

 seconded by Sir Robert Woods, M.Ch., M.P., supported by Rev. W. 

 O'N. Lindesay, and carried unanimously. 



The Report dwells on the difficulties experienced during 1920 through 

 the curtailment of railway traffic and the disturbed state of the country, 

 and the high price of food and coal. It has been abnormally difficult to 

 secure new animals, but the grounds and houses are in excellent condition 

 and many improvements have been carried out. Despite the strictest 

 economy, the year closed with a bank overdraft of ;^62i, and the Council 

 appeals for a great increase in the membership. During 1920 there were 

 elected 62 annual members and 19 life members. The Gardens were 

 visited by 159,783 persons, the gate receipts amounting to ;^3,oo9. The 

 Society has ;/;2,ooo from the profits of the 1919 Fete invested. A Fete 

 lasting for ten days was held at the end of June, 1920, for the special 

 object of raising funds to defray the cost of the proposed enclosure for 

 bears. A sum of ;^70o resulted from the effort, and the Council records 

 its thanks to the many ladies and gentlemen who gave in this connection 

 splendid service to the Society ; the Fete not merely brought in a sub- 

 stantial sum, but also helped to increase public interest in the Gardens. 

 Thanks are especially due to Lady Fitzgerald Arnott, Lady Moore, and 

 Mr. and Mrs. Knox Peebles. 



During the year the Nesbitt Aviary has been re-roofed and the root of 

 the Anthropoid House has been repaired. A complete German submarine 

 periscope was presented to the Society by the Royal Navy War Trophies 

 Committee in February, 1920. It has been erected in the loft over the 

 Elephant House, for which a new floor and an outside staircase have been 

 provided. Through the periscope a beautiful view of the gardens and 

 surrounding country can be obtained, and it has been inspected by many 

 interested visitors. The periscope proved one of the attractions at the 

 Gardens during the Fete. The main grass-plot has been levelled and re-^ 

 sown, and the garden walks repaired and gravelled. Work on the new 

 bear enclosure has been commenced, and it is hoped that the cages will be 

 ready for their owners early in the New Year. The balconies, stairs, and 

 entire woodwork of the Haughton House have been repaired and repainted. 

 Altogether over 200 has been spent on necessary repairs to buildings. 



During the year the Gardens lost by death two of their most popular 

 inmates, " George " and " Charlie." Both of these Chimpanzees had lived 

 in the Anthropoid house for just six years, and had always delighted 

 visitors by their liveliness and by the friendly interest they took in man- 

 kind. " George," the elder of the two, had become feeble for some months 



