32 
It will be the endeavour of the society to attempt to acclimatise 
and cultivate those animals, birds, &c., which will be useful and 
suitable to the park, the moorland, the plain, the woodland, the 
farm, tlie poultry-yard, as well as those which will increase the re¬ 
sources of our sea* shores, rivers, ponds, and gardens. 
It is hoped that this endeavour to increase the internal resources 
of the country will meet with the support of the public. 
Persona desirous of becoming members may do so on subscrib¬ 
ing £2 2s. per annum. A donation of £10 will make the donor a 
life-member of the society.* 
The Society thus formed have had several meetings, and dis¬ 
cussed several points ; they have obtained promises of support ajid 
co-operation from many persons who are interested in tlie subject. 
Among others who attended the meetings was IMr. Edward 
Wilson, whose name is so well known in connection with the 
operations and successful efforts he has so nobly made to acclima¬ 
tise animals in Australia. This gentleman addressed a most 
powerful letter to tlie Times, (which I regret I have not space to 
print in full,) whereby be raised the public mind to the importance 
of acclimatisation, and did an essential sendee. 
Shortly after this letter appeared in the Times, at a meeting 
held October 6th, 1860, Jlr. AVilson announced publicly that Miss 
Burdett Coutts, with that generosity and kindness of heart wlu'ch 
has gained for her the respect and esteem of all classes, both rich 
and poor, had presented the Society with the munificent donation 
of ^500, together with a promise of subscription of £10 annually 
for five years. Thus did this excellent lady stretch out the hand 
of encouragement towards those who were endeavouring to do good 
in their generation, and we may now state that The Sociefy for 
the Acclimatisation of Animals” is fairly on foot, and the Council 
are willing to understake such steps as shall be most advisable, in 
opening the active operation in a field new and unexplored. We 
are as yet young, and amid the emharras des richesses we feel it 
difficult to kuow bow to begin. 
In his letter to the Times, Jlr. Wilson stated that a great 
want in this country was a domestic animal not too large to be con¬ 
sumed by a middle-class family, and the flesh of which should ho 
meaty rather than poultry like. Our sheep are too large for this 
purpose; pork is not wholesome if used too frequently or killed 
too young; and rabbits are too small, flavoui’lcss, and white- 
meated. 
Temporary Offices, .346 Strand. 
