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ADDRESS, &o. 
Your Excellence, Ladies and Gentlemen, 
The present Society owes its origin to a meeting of gentlemen, con 
vened in St. Patrick’s Hall, on the 6th of October, 1857, for the 
purpose only of forming an Ornithological Society ; having in view 
chiefly the rearing of the liner kinds of poultry and cage-birds. Our 
present Acting-president, Dr. Black, having moved that the original 
plan should be extended, so as to form at once rather a general 
Zoological Society, his views were carried, and by the liberality of 
the Government and the Legislature in making a grant of thirty- 
three acres of land hi Richmond Paddock, opposite the Botanic 
Gardens, and a grant of £3,000 in money, the Society was at once 
put in a position to commence work; its objects, as defined at that 
time, beiug “ to encourage the introduction of foreign animals, and to 
domesticate the indigenous mammals and birds of the colony.” A 
large number of subscribers joined, and the private donations, both 
of money and living animals, were so liberal at this time, that no 
doubt could be entertained of the interest which the public took in 
the projected Society. 
As, however, the piece of laud selected was cold, barren, and swampy, 
it was subsequently indicated to the Government that the auimals 
would be more healthily lodged on the high (opposite) side of the river; 
and it was also shown that to lay out a Zoological Garden, like those 
in Europe, with beautiful walks and flowers to please the eye, as well 
as extensive shrubberies to shelter the auimals, would require a great 
expenditure on earth-works and planting of money furnished rather 
for expenditure on animals, as well as time, which could not be com¬ 
manded for the growth of the plants. It was suggested, then, that 
as all these requirements already existed in the Botanic Gardens, the 
various cages and enclosures for the birds and quadrupeds, might be 
placed in such suitable spots as might be found there, with great 
advantage to the public,—the animals would be healthily sheltered, 
and visitors could at once inspect them pleasantly. These views 
were ably seconded by Dr. Muller, who expressed his willingness to 
receive the birds and beasts into the Botanic Gardens ; and aviaries, 
fish-ponds, and a few cages, and enclosures for quadrupeds were 
o 
