9 
to know that the existence and intentions of the Society are now 
fairly understood in tins and the adjacent colonies,—and even at 
home, in Prance, India, and other countries of the highest value 
as sites for interchanges. 
It will be remembered by the Members that the Provisional 
Committee of the Acclimatisation Society consisted of the original 
Zoological Committee, appointed by the Government; and it will 
be necessary, to prevent confusion, to hear in mind the existence 
of two bodies, similar in their objects, and exercisiug like func¬ 
tions—the one appointed by the Government; the other, at 
present, nominated by the Members. In the rules prepared for 
your approval, it is intended to amalgamate these separate bodies 
in one effective council. 
As a Zoological Committee, your Provisional Committee learned 
that considerable progress had been made in securing a new and 
valuable site for their operations in the Royal Park, and ener¬ 
getic steps have been taken to acquire so safe a tenure as would 
justify your Committee in expending upon the park the funds at 
their disposal. 
Very serious delays have, however, unfortunately arisen in the 
action of the Government, hut we have every reason to hope that 
we shall shortly be put in possession of the park. 
Your Committee would remind you that the arrangement has 
long since received Legislative sanction, in a vote of “ £1000 for 
fences and buildings in the Royal Park, for zoological purposes.” 
To be ready to avail themselves of this concession as soon as it 
should be made, your Committee advertised for designs for laying 
out the park on a system of landscape gardening, and after due 
examination, ably aided by Mr. Skene, of the Board of Land and 
Works, they awarded the prize of £25 for the best design to Mr. 
Alfred Lynch; acknowledging the ability and valuable sugges¬ 
tions contained in several of the other designs submitted. 
Other votes than that referred to have passed the Legislature ; 
£2000, namely, for the introduction of a further supply of pure 
Alpacas, £500 for the introduction of the Salmon, and £500 for 
other animals. 
To facilitate the object of the first of these votes, your Com- 
* 
