CHAPTER XXXVI

THE GARDENS OF THE ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN

This Society was founded on May 10, 1830. On that day a public meeting was held in the Rotunda for this purpose. The Duke of Leinster occupied the chair, and a large and representative gathering was present. The first and most important resolution—viz., ‘That it appears expedient that a society be formed, to be entitled the Zoological Society of Dublin’—was proposed by the Earl of Longford and seconded by the Surgeon-General (Mr. Philip Crampton). The second resolution, which was proposed by the Earl of Howth and seconded by Dr. Whitley Stokes, was worded as follows: ‘That the object of the Society shall be to form a collection of living animals on the plan of the Zoological Society of London.’ Towards the close of the meeting Dr. Jacob intimated that the Lord Lieutenant (the Duke of Northumberland) had arranged to give a portion of the Phœnix Park for the purpose of establishing a Zoological Garden.

At the second meeting, held on May 15, 1830, Dr. Whitley Stokes, then Regius Professor of Medicine in Trinity College, was elected the first Honorary Secretary of the Society, and on May 21, 1830, Mr. James Pim, junior (41, Dame Street), was elected the first Honorary Treasurer.

Although numerous meetings of the Managing Committee were held during the summer and autumn of 1830, there does not appear to have been much progress made in the formation of a Garden until the summer of 1831. This was largely due to the fact that the Duke of Northumberland left Ireland in December, and to the difficulties which, in consequence, arose in obtaining the formal possession of the site in Phœnix Park. In June, 1830, the Honorary Secretary intimated that the Lord Lieutenant ‘had been pleased to give formal possession of the ground in Phœnix Park,’ but it was necessary that this grant should be officially confirmed by the new Viceroy, the Marquess of Anglesey. It was not until May 28, 1831, that a letter was received from Colonel Gossett, the Under-Secretary, who, in his capacity as Park Ranger, conveyed the necessary powers, and at the same time intimated that the Lord Lieutenant would be ‘happy to patronize the Society and give it his support.’

At this stage it is right to bring prominently forward the valuable services which were rendered by Mr. Nicholas Aylward Vigors, F.R.S., in connection with the early struggles of the Society. Having taken an active part in the foundation of the London Zoological Society in 1826, he had been elected its first Honorary Secretary, and held that office until 1833. He was deeply interested in the Dublin project, and ten days after the public meeting he wrote to the Managing Committee to say that the London Society would extend its co-operation to the Dublin Zoological Society. A few weeks later he was elected on the Managing Committee, and attended several of the early meetings. It is evident that his advice was much relied on, and largely served to shape the early policy of the new Society. At the first meeting at which he was present (July 8, 1830) he urged the necessity of having a plan of the proposed Gardens prepared by a competent person, and he was authorized by the Committee to ascertain whether Mr. Decimus Burton, Architect to the Zoological Society of London, would place his services at the disposal of the Society in Dublin. This Mr. Burton ultimately agreed to do for a fee of £75.

Some slight idea may be obtained from Mr. Burton’s report of the condition of the ground at the time it was allotted to the Society. He says in regard to this: ‘The ground on the other side’ (evidently referring to the constabulary side of the lake) ‘is enclosed with a stone wall, but the line it takes is very irregular. The upper or eastern portion of the site is a paddock nearly level, at about 26 feet average height above the surface of the water. In this paddock are two groups of fine timber trees and an orchard. The slope next the water is thickly covered with well-grown underwood, principally thorny. The original buildings consist of a substantial dwelling-house, an outhouse or stable, and a small cottage. The Society have had erected, but in a temporary manner, a wooden building for the reception of the deer, nylgais, etc., alcove seats, bear pits, etc., and lately they have finished, in a better style, an otter place. There is an old ice-well in the grounds.’

PHŒNIX PARK, DUBLIN.

From the minutes it would appear that the cottage was occupied by Mrs. Rourke, and that the substantial building referred to was the park-keeper’s lodge. Mrs. Rourke, evidently uneasy with regard to her tenure, approached the Committee, and the Honorary Secretary was instructed to inform her that the Society did not ‘at that moment require the house,’ and that ‘they will not interfere to have her removed immediately.’ Mrs. Rourke appears to have been a somewhat troublesome tenant. In April, 1832, it was ordered that the communication between Mrs. Rourke’s house and the Gardens be cut off, and in December of the following year ‘Mrs. Rourke was cautioned not to hang any more of her linen within sight of the visitors to the Gardens.’ Ultimately, on April 27, 1835, it was resolved ‘that Mrs. Rourke be warned that, unless she do leave the Gardens before the next meeting of Council, she will forfeit the advantages so liberally accorded to her by the Council.’

During the winter of 1830-31 there were no meetings of the Committee, but after the formal acquisition of the site, operations were actively carried on with a view towards the early opening of the Gardens to the public. Up to this time the only animal mentioned as being in the possession of the Society is a wild boar. On September 25, 1830, £2 were allowed to Godden ‘for the support of the wild boar,’ and in the following year (May 28, 1831) there is an entry ‘that the sum of £2 be given to Godden for feeding the pig.’ During the summer of 1831 animals were gradually gathered in, but it is very doubtful if the Gardens could have been opened that year without the large consignment that came through Mr. Vigors from the London Gardens.

In 1830 His Majesty King William IV. presented to the London Society all the animals in the royal menagerie in Windsor Park. Amongst these there were fourteen wapiti deer, of which two were sent to Dublin, along with one Sambur deer, one nylgai, two emus, two ostriches, and quite a number of less important animals. These animals arrived some time in June, 1831. There is a note in the minute-book (on the 25th of that month) to the effect that Dr. Stokes was empowered ‘to send Godden to London as soon as possible to take charge of the animals, and bring them over by the London steamer.’

In 1831 the King handed over to the London Society the collection of animals that was kept in the London Tower, and on this occasion he expressed a wish that such as were not required for Regent’s Park should be sent to the Zoological Society of Dublin. In this manner the first royal gift of animals came to Dublin. It consisted of a wolf, a leopard, and a hyæna.

The modest character of the operations of the Society during the first two years may be gathered from the entries of the weekly payments. On May 25, 1832, ‘wages, labour, and provisions for the last week’ came to £6 2s. 9d. This may be taken as a sample of the weekly expenditure, but it does not represent the total outlay upon provisions, because bills were run for several items of food for the animals.

The Gardens were opened to the public on September 1, 1831. The following advertisement appeared in the Saunders’ Newsletter on the morning of that day:

‘ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

‘The Zoological Garden in the Phœnix Park, under the patronage of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, will be opened for visitors on this day, Thursday, September 1, at nine o’clock in the morning, and will not be closed until a late hour in the day.

‘All persons are to be admitted for sixpence each, and they are to write their names at the gate.

‘A member who has paid his subscription, and two friends coming with him, are admitted free of expense.

‘Members are also allowed to purchase transferable tickets.

‘The Committee request that visitors may leave their sticks and umbrellas at the gate, and that children may be kept from approaching too near to the bars which confine the animals.

‘J. Pim, Esq., 41, Dame Street, continues to receive subscriptions and donations.

‘The first day’s receipts will be given to the Mendicity Institution.’

On January 10, 1833, Mr. Drewett was appointed Superintendent at a salary of £100 a year, with £20 per annum for house-rent, until such time as a house could be provided. The Society met on November 19 at Hunt’s Hotel, Dawson Street, and Dr. Whitley Stokes read the first report of the Committee of Management. It would appear that from the opening of the Gardens, September 1, 1831, up to November 1, 1832, 36,497 visitors had paid for admission. The Treasurer’s statement gave the following items:

£s.d.
For subscriptions50850
Admissions (September 1, 1831, to November 1, 1832)912810
————————
1,4201310
Entire expenses since the commencement1,33199
————————
Balance in Treasurer’s hands8941
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A list of the animals in the Gardens is also furnished. This includes forty-six mammals, of which fifteen were monkeys, seventy-two birds, and a few other animals.

Without question, the most important meeting of the Society since its foundation up to the present day was that which was held in Hunt’s Hotel, Dawson Street, on May 15, 1833. Mr. W. Tighe Hamilton, who had in the previous year given notice that he would propose a new code of laws for the government of the Society, again brought this matter forward. The keynote struck at that meeting was that the Zoological Society should be developed as a Scientific Society, and that its leading aim should be to stimulate a love of natural history amongst the people. A protracted and animated discussion took place on the new code of laws submitted to the Society. Captain Portlock, R.E., was elected Honorary Secretary in place of Dr. Stokes, who had opposed the new code of laws. The Surgeon-General, Mr. Philip Crampton, became the first President, and Mr. James Pim retained office as Treasurer.

It is pleasant to note that the Society showed its indebtedness to Mr. Vigors, and its appreciation of the high scientific reputation which he had earned, by electing him one of its first Vice-Presidents.

The code of laws which was passed in 1833 is the same as that which now regulates the affairs of the Society. In the course of the sixty-seven years which have elapsed since the code was adopted few alterations have been made, and for the most part they are of a trifling character. The laws, as originally adopted, rigidly limited the tenure of office of the President to one year. It is now competent for the Society, should it so desire it, to re-elect the President annually for a period of five years. Under the present regulations only three instead of five members of Council retire each year. Other slight changes have taken place in the laws since 1833, but it is not necessary to specify them.

We have noted that, on its institution, the Society was designated the Zoological Society of Dublin. It bore this name for eight years, and it was only after her late Majesty Queen Victoria graciously consented to become Patron that it assumed the title which it now bears.

A special feature in connection with the management of the affairs of the Zoological Gardens consists in the fact that the members of the Council take breakfast together each Saturday morning in the Gardens before proceeding to transact the weekly business. These breakfasts have become one of the social features of Dublin, and there cannot be a doubt that they exert a most important influence in advancing the interests of the Society. Not only do they promote good-fellowship amongst the members of the Council, but they have a remarkable effect in obtaining a regular attendance at the business meetings which follow. They are also recognised as a powerful agent in obtaining recruits for the Society. Curiously enough, it would appear that an impression has got abroad amongst some of those who are not acquainted with the management of the Zoological Gardens that the expense of these breakfasts is defrayed out of the funds of the Society. Such a conception is absolutely erroneous, and it may be well also to state that even the furniture of the room in which the breakfasts are held, and the table equipment, are the personal property of the members of the Council.

At least one anniversary dinner has taken place in the Gardens (in the summer of 1838). This dinner, held always in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Society, was continued for some years; but, except on the one occasion referred to, it appears to have been held in an hotel.

In having no salaried officers outside those actually engaged in the Gardens, the Zoological Society of Ireland differs from most, if not all, kindred societies.

In 1868 there were 127,900 visitors to the Gardens, the receipts being £938 18s. 6d.

In 1869 there were 136,052 visitors, and there were in the Gardens 143 mammals and 219 birds.

In 1877 Miss Nesbitt presented the Gardens with a handsome aviary costing £350.

In 1878 a severe frost occurred, covering the lake in the Gardens with a sheet of ice 9 inches thick. A fortnight’s good skating was the result, and no animals were lost, owing to special precautions being taken to supply additional fuel for the stoves and extra straw for bedding. During the visit of the British Association to Dublin in August, the Council entertained at breakfast seventy-two of the most distinguished of the foreign and British visitors in the aquarium. There is, however, no record to show whether they were given anything else but fish! During this year animals were born in the Gardens, including three leopards. One hundred and nineteen carcases of beef, twenty-four horses, and seventeen sheep were used to feed the animals.

In 1879 ten lion cubs were born in the Gardens. Two Himalayan bear cubs were successfully reared during the year, a circumstance without parallel in the history of Zoological Gardens.

In 1880 five lion cubs and three leopard cubs were born in the Gardens. A polar bear and a bison were purchased. Thomas Flood, one of the keepers, was killed by the red deer stag, of which he had the care.

Over one hundred animals and birds were added to the collection in 1881; four lion cubs and one leopard cub were born in the Gardens.

In 1882 two young elephants were purchased from Burmah. In order to aid in the construction of a suitable house for them, a number of Fellows and Professors of Trinity College, Dublin, gave a series of lectures, which produced a net profit of £50.

In 1883 the first dog show was held in the Gardens. Four lion cubs, one red deer, and one yak were born.

In 1884 the dog show was made an annual event. The Egyptian pariah dogs, captured on the field of battle at Tel-el-Kebir, and presented by Lieutenant Cusack, produced puppies.

In 1887 the receipts at the gate fell considerably; but this was balanced by the sale of lion cubs and other animals bred in the Gardens, which realized £260. A fine paddock and shelter for the red deer was constructed and the aquarium was improved. One hundred and forty-one lions had up to now been born in the Gardens, cubs realizing £45 each. Two moose were obtained in Canada, and presented by Mr. S. K. Twigg. In 1885 no less than twelve lion cubs were born, and six were disposed of for £100 in cash and £105 worth of other animals. An adult lion costs £15 a year to feed. Two thousand eight hundred pounds have now been obtained from the sale of lion cubs.

An event which had been looked forward to with much interest—namely, the birth of a young American bison—terminated fatally both to mother and calf. A fine young orang-outang was acquired, and was visited by thousands.

In 1889 the average price obtained for lion cubs was £42 10s. The total number of cubs born in the Gardens now stood at 145. A tiger died this year, but three tiger cubs were presented by Surgeon Henston, who secured them in a cave in India after having killed their parents. Two lion and two tiger cubs were to be seen living on the most friendly terms together in one cage. The orang-outang died.

THE LAKE, DUBLIN.

In 1891 the Gardens were visited by His Royal Highness the late Duke of Clarence on two occasions. Seven lions were born in the Gardens.

In 1892 a savage encounter took place between a lion and a tigress which had been placed in the same cage together. There were seven species of bear to be seen in the Gardens. The last of the large kangaroos died. The Gardens were visited by the Lord Lieutenant. The attempts to breed lion and tiger hybrids had up to now failed.

Amongst other animals acquired in 1893 was a jaguar, two hunting leopards, a black leopard, a tapir, a yak, a Bactrian camel, a female nylgai, and a male ostrich. Four hundred pounds were spent on the erection of a large outdoor aviary. One hundred and sixty-nine lion cubs had now been born in the Gardens, ‘Old Girl’ (from 1862 to 1873) producing no less than fifty-five and ‘Queen’ (from 1884 to 1891) twenty-eight. ‘Old Charley’ (between 1866 and 1874) was the father of forty-seven.

In 1895 her late Majesty Queen Victoria presented the Gardens with a fine young male lion. Various improvements were effected in the grounds. An island was formed in the lake, and a goat house and rockery were built. The Burchell’s zebra died of old age, having been twenty-one years in the Gardens. A chimpanzee and a white-tailed gnu were added to the collection. There were born in the Gardens during the year ten puma cubs, three lion cubs, one hog deer, two Barbary sheep, one llama, two red deer, and other smaller animals.

In 1896 alterations were made in the aquarium, which was built in 1868; an alligator pond and diving-bird cages and tanks were introduced into it. Since 1857 the large sum of £4,760 had been realized by the sale of lion cubs. A Cape hunting-dog had a litter of four puppies, but unfortunately they all died. A pair of Burchell’s zebras was added to the collection, and twenty-nine animals were born in the Gardens during the year.

In 1897 Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, V.C., was elected President for the ensuing year. The aquarium, which had been closed for alterations, was reopened by the Countess Cadogan. Out of a litter of five Cape hunting-dogs born this year only one was reared; seven lion cubs were born, all of which died.

In 1898 there were 123,806 visitors to the Gardens, and the receipts at the gates were £1,785 16s. 1d. The name of the late Dr. Haughton, for many years President of the Society, was perpetuated by the erection of ‘Haughton House,’ a building for the display of living monkeys and birds. Steps were taken to endeavour to preserve the nesting-places of the choughs. A sea-lion, the only specimen of the kind ever brought to Ireland, was acquired. Its weekly fish bill cost £1, whilst its weekly supply of water cost 10s. Two litters of Cape hunting-dog puppies were born, and a few reared by the aid of foster-mothers. The period of gestation averaged about eighty days. Many valuable donations to the Gardens were made, including monkeys, a python, squirrels, peacocks, seven crocodiles, a monitor, and several birds.

On May 19, 1899, the Haughton Memorial Building was formally opened by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant. The Irish lion industry was now causing anxiety, and few cubs were born. A Nubian lion was bought from Herr Carl Hagenbeck to try to lay the foundation stone of a second strain. This purchase was attended with the most gratifying results, for in September a litter of three cubs was born, ‘Germania’ being the mother. Thus a new strain was established. Two months after, ‘Hypatia’ gave birth to three cubs by ‘Cæsar’; she, however, refused for the third time to rear her cubs. A goat suckled them for three days, and then a fine Irish red setter was brought into requisition as a wet-nurse. During the year a medal was instituted, to be given each year to the person who submitted the best series of animal photographs taken in the Gardens. Lord Roberts, the President of the Society, was the means of the Gardens obtaining a black buck, two axis deer, and a fine male leopard, and a large number of important gifts were made from all parts of the world. A camel calf (the first ever born in Ireland) unfortunately died in six days. The period of gestation was twelve months and twenty-one days. Two anthropoid apes died. A hybrid antelope, between Gazella subguthurosa and Antelope cervicapra, was born, also two Barbary sheep, five wolf cubs, one great wallaby hybrid, and four puma cubs.

On April 20, 1900, her late Majesty Queen Victoria visited the Gardens, and spent an hour slowly driving round the grounds and inspecting the animals. Plans were formulated for the erection of a beautiful new lion house fitted with outdoor cages. The new house was to be called ‘the Roberts’ House,’ after Lord Roberts, the President. Professor Cossar Ewart sent a number of his zebra hybrids for exhibition. They remained in the Gardens for over a month.

LION CUBS FROM SOMALILAND, DUBLIN.
(Photo by Miss Grace Eustace.)

The Irish lion industry at this time began to revive. During the first forty-four years of this industry it had periods of marked depression. From 1874 to 1878 Dr. Ball recorded that, ‘though the blood was preserved, breeding was interrupted.’ Again, between 1895 and 1898, only eighteen cubs were born in the Gardens, and of these only six were reared. Three litters were born during 1900. These were seven males and two females. The number of cubs born in the Gardens since 1857 had now reached the large total of 211, of which 112 were males, 98 females, and one of unrecorded sex. The average litter is now composed of two or three; prior to 1886 it comprised four. The famous lioness ‘Old Girl’ contributed no less than fifty-five cubs.

The stock of lions in the Gardens this year was two males, five females, and eleven cubs. A large number of presents were received, among which may be mentioned two Bengal tigers from the Nizam of Hyderabad, a black bear cub, a large python from West Africa, six giant tortoises from the Hon. Walter Rothschild, and a polar bear. A female white-tailed gnu, two Bactrian camels, and two ostriches were purchased. The sea-lion and the two fine cheetahs died, together with an ostrich, a recently acquired chimpanzee, and a male Bactrian camel.

The Royal Zoological Society of Ireland has now had an existence of seventy years, and is only four years younger than the London Zoological Society, founded in 1826.