8 
done nuicli for them in adding to the aboriginal stock of animals and 
fowls, very few additions had been made in modern times. Im¬ 
mediately after the discovery of America, the Spaniards added a few 
birds to the European stock from the new continent, but no animal 
of any use to our farms or poultiy-yards. 
In its first proceedings the society was very modest. At the 
present time it numbers more than two thousand members, and 
includes within its roll thirty-five royal names, from the Emperor of 
the French to the Edng of Siam, from tho Sovereign Pontiff to the 
Eiui^eror of Brazil. It also possesses a splendid garden, more than 
33 acres in extent, in tho Bois do Boulogne, and every convenience 
and appliance for canyiiig out its principles. 
The influence of the Society began to be very speedily felt, and in 
1855 a I'cport was presented to the members, from Avliich it appeared 
that there had arisen in other parts of France a desire to form 
similar institutions, which were to be affiliated to the parent stem— 
a movement Avhich was thought well worth tho encouragement of the 
Society—^^vhich accordingly affiliated to itself the Zoological Society 
of Acclimatisation for the Ptegiou of the Alps. At the same time it 
took into correspondence various local and departmental agricultural 
societies, and determined to enlarge its plans, so as to admit the 
vegetable as well as the animal Idngdom. 
In the year 1858, however, it was resolved to take a step in 
advance, and obtain a garden of an extent sufficient for the purposes 
of the Society. Thanks to the concurreneo of the Imperial Govern¬ 
ment, and of the Municipality of the City of Paris, this was easily 
managed, and a space of ground in the Bols de Boulogne, nearly 
three times as large as the Zoological Gardens in the Eegent’s-park, 
was placed at the disposal of the Society. 
Perhaps the best exemplification of the manner in which the 
French Acclimatisation Society set to work, is aftbrded by the list of 
prizes which they offered to the competition of the members in the 
year 1857. It was as follows :— 
1. A medal worth £80, for introducing into the mountains of 
Europe or Algeiia a flock of pure Alpacas (Auvltenh paca.) The 
flock must consist of three males and nine females at the least. 
2. A medal worth £40, for the complete domestication, application 
to agriculture, or employment in towns of the Kiang (E<ium 
hemioims), a valuable bcivst of burden, of great power and swiftness, 
wliich belongs to Thibet, or the peetsi (Asiniis Barchelli)^ a South 
African animal, nearly allied to the zelna, but much resembling the 
horse. The domestication includes reproduction in captivity. 
3. A medal worth £-10, for the domesticiition and miiltijjlication 
of some large species of kangaroo — Macropit^ gigmiteusj M. faUginosus 
