4 
A few weeks since a meeting was held in this city, and a 
provisional committee appointed to prepare and bring this 
important subject before the public at a general meeting; and 
when that time arrives I hope it will meet with the success 
it deserves. Already the provisional committee have had a very 
liberal offer from Mr. Holt, of Newtown, of his valuable grounds 
(under certain conditions), situated at Cook's Biver, consisting 
of about 120 acres, enclosed by a wall six feet in height, and 
with all the buildings and improvements upon it, at a mere 
nominal rental of five shillings armually. The grounds combine 
shelter, pasturage, water, and all the capabilities requisite for 
the purposes of* acclimatisation; and Mr. Holt has already 
expended, and is still expending, large sums upon this property, 
the whole of which he places at the disposal of the society. 
Such a liberal offer is rarely to be met with from a private 
individual, and will, no doubt, be highly appreciated by the 
public, for whose benefit it is intended. 
In 1854, a society for the purpose of acclimatisation was 
established in Paris, and its influence was soon felt; for in 1855 
a report was made, from which it appeared there had arisen, in 
other parts of France, a desire of forming similar institutions, 
which were to be affiliated to the parent stem. In 1858, by the 
concurrence of the Imperial Government, and of the munici¬ 
pality of the city of Paris, a large extent of ground was placed 
at the disposal of the society, was in progress of arrangement 
during my visits to Paris in 1850 and 1800, and has since been 
completed and opened to the public. 
On the first establishment of the Zoological Society of 
London, its objects were those of the present acclimatisation 
societies, and was never intended by its founders as merely a 
menagerie of wild animals. It was instituted in 1826, under 
the auspices of Sir Humphrey Davy and Sir Stamford Raffles, 
and other eminent men, <f for the advancement of zoology, and 
the introduction, exhibition, and acclimatisation of subjects of 
the animal kingdomand besides the gardens in the Regent’s 
Park, they had a farm at Kingston, which, either from the 
expense or some mismanagement, was given up. On the farm 
being abandoned, with the exception of the introduction' of the 
Sandwich Island goose; the ashy-headed goose, from the Falk¬ 
land Islands; the Cereopsis, or Cape Barren goose, from 
Australia; and a few other minor species of birds_nothing was 
done until 1852 or 1853, >Gien the acclimatisation of the 
eland (now considered accomplished) may be said to have com- 
