27 
happens, that different people take different views on this point. In 
fact, the members of the council do not always agree among them¬ 
selves on the subject. I recollect that we happened to possess at 
one time a considerable number of monkeys, and that they were 
found exceedingly mischievous, troublesome to look after, and alto¬ 
gether very expensive. The council almost unanimously came to the 
conclusion that it would be much better to get rid of the monkeys, 
but our friend Mr. Wilson wrote out to us to the effect that he was a 
thorough acclimatises and that he went in for the acclimatisation o 
monkeys for the amusement of the wayfarer whom their gambols 
would delight as he lay under some gum-tree in the forest on a sultry 
day. And really when I call to mind my South American reminis¬ 
cences—when 1 remember the pretty little sahiwinM which used to 
frolic in the trees near my study window—and when I recollect how 
my time was beguiled during the boating excursions on the noble 
rivers of Guiana by the tricks of the large baboons who clambered 
from tree to tree, and hurled at a stranger whatever they could catch 
as a punishment for intruding on their solitude—I think Mr. Wilson 
• was in that respect right, and I am inclined to concur with him that 
it is desirable to acclimatise the monkey tribe, if it can be done. 
(Hear, hear.) But there are other animals with respect to which 
there can be no difference of opinion, and I admit it was with satis¬ 
faction that I read in the newspapers recently, that a boa-constrictor 
which formed a portion of a valuable consignment from the Cape of 
Good Hope, perished on board ; for I don’t know what we should 
have done with it, or who would have accepted it from us, unless 
Professor M'Coy would have taken it as a specimen for his museum. 
(Laughter.) At the same time it must be borne in mind, that the 
Society is happy to receive animals of all sorts, both Australian and 
from other parts of the world, as presents, and means of exchange 
for carrying out the objects it has in view. (Hear, hear.) Another 
point on which I wish to touch is the mortality among animals 
on their voyage to or from the colony, and the necessity 
of employing proper persons to take charge of them on 
board ship. The neglect of this precaution has led to the useless 
expenditure of a great deal of money, and it has also occasioned a 
great deal of disappointment from time to time. The usual course 
with private individuals—and even in the first instance with societies 
_who have animals to send is, to take them down to the ship at the 
last moment, and put them under the care of the steward, the cook, 
or the butcher, without knowing anything about his disposition or 
character, or the amount of other duties which he may have to 
