u 
accordingly erected and used with the permission of the Govern¬ 
ment. A difficulty, however, arose at this point, which was 
liberally met by the Government. The private subscribers to the 
Zoological Society contemplated making, like the London Zoological _ 
Society, an entrance charge to the public visiting their Gardens, but ^ 
as this could not be done when the zoological collections were distri¬ 
buted through the Public Botanic Gardens, the Government decided 
to carry out the objects of the Zoological Society entirely at the 
public expense, doing without the private subscriptions, and letting 
the public have freely the benefits of the undertaking. The Govern¬ 
ment nominating a certain number of Members of the Board of 
Management to act with a proportionate number representing the 
original Zoological Society, and Dr. Muller consenting to act as 
Secretary, was the provision made for carrying on the management. 
This arrangement was found to act well, as far as the smaller and 
more ornamental creatures were concerned, and even the flocks of 
llamas, alpacas, and other bulky domesticated animals did well. 
I he aspect, was, however, more that of a Zoological, than of an 
Acclimatisation Society’s collection, and there was obviously no 
space for the extensive and secluded breeding-paddocks, stables, 
shelter huts, Ac., which would be required if the operations of the 
Zoological Committee were to be directed more to Acclimatisation 
purposes. 
The aviaries established in the Botanic Gardens at this time were 
especially successful, and a very large number and variety, particu¬ 
larly of song-birds, have been kept and reared there up to the present 
time; and such large numbers, particularly of English thrushes, 
blackbirds, larks, starlings, and canaries, have been liberated, that in 
the immediate neighbourhood at least they are quite acclimatised, 
and breed regularly without care or food from the attendants. There 
could be no doubt that those delightful reminders of our early home, 
would even now have spread from that centre over a great part of 
the colony ; and the plains, the bush, and the forest would have had 
their present savage silence, or worse, enlivened by those varied, 
touching, joyous, strains of Heaven-taught melody, which our earliest 
records show, have always done good to man—which, in all times have 
been recognised, among all varieties of nation or taste, as sweetening 
the poor man’s labours, inspiring the poet with happiest thoughts, and 
softening and turning from evil even the veriest brute that ever 
made himself drunk or plotted ill against his neighbour—we should, 
1 have no doubt, all have been able ere this to have enjoyed one 
result of the Society's labours, in hearing so many of those songsters 
