12 
inanition in 1847 with regret, and had rejoiced in the subsequent 
resuscitation wliich the Council, in their last report, have candidly 
and handsomely acknowledged to be due to the exertions and ability 
of their former secretary, Mr. Mitchell. Desirous of marking his 
sympathy with this management, Lord Derby directed tliat wluitever 
group of animals should be considered most eligible for the 
purpose of acclimatisation, at the time of his death, should be 
transferred from the Knowsley collection in its entirety to the 
Society’s possession. By the advice of Mr. Mitchell, the elands Avere 
most judiciously chosen, and the result has justified all the expec¬ 
tations which he formed of thorn. The progress of this accliina- 
tisation, Avluch is now perfected, is related in a short paper published 
in the “ Bulletin de la Society Imp6riale d’Acclimatatiou,” and 
subsequently noticed in the report of the Society, read at their hist 
anniversary. It ax)pears, from the table given in this document, that 
up to the 29th of April last twenty eland calves had been produced 
in England from the Knowsley stock, independently of any which 
may have been obtained from three of tlie earliest born females, 
which were exported to the Continent. If the whole number 
had been kept together up to this time, as was, we believe, 
the intention of Mr. Mitchell, the united herd would not count less 
than thirty head. With such a commencement, it is clear that the 
progress of this interesting labour would have gone on much more 
rapidly ; and that the next five years, instead of ten, would have 
made the eland not uncommon in our parks. 
The merit of the first step towards the acclimatisation of the eland 
in England is incontestibly due to the late Lord Derby. More than 
twelve years ago his first importation arrived. They bred; but he 
unfortunately parted Avith a male. Accident reduced his stock to a 
single female, avIio remained barren. Nothing discouraged, he 
recommenced, and in 1851 the animals, so soon transferred to the 
Zoological Society, arrived—the female in February, the male in July. 
They Avere young, and their first calf Avas not boniAintil 1853—since 
then the work has proceeded Avith great success. 
Herds of this noble antelope have been found at Hawkstone, by 
Viscount Hill; at Tayinouth, by the Marquis of Brcadalbane; and 
at Tattou, by Lord Egerton. The stock of the society is still very 
strong and vigorous, and will, if well managed, continue to supply the 
nucleus of future home-bred herds—for which applications are 
constantly made—for years to come. 
Lord Hill Avas the first to profit by the opportunity offered by the 
society, and ho luis no less than eight of these animals roaming in his 
deer park, after having slaughtered a six-year old male for the table 
