A fish-breeding establishment also exists here. In 1884 the first eggs were received—1,000 salmon and 1,000 trout. The old monkey house was so damp and unhealthy that a new one had to be built in 1886. In 1890 and 1891 a large number of animals and birds was acquired, including bull and fox terriers, hares, mice, tortoises, wolves, sheep, doves, finches, gold-fish, etc. In 1900 there were born in the Garden: in April, 8 cross-bred swine, 1 Angora sheep, and 1 moufflon; in May, 4 wolves, 2 Barbary sheep, 2 deer, 1 Burchell’s zebra, and 1 wild ass; in June, 1 Indian buffalo, 1 hog deer, and 1 cross-bred ass; in July, 1 wild sheep. And in February, 1901, there were born in the Garden: 1 Indian buffalo, 1 wild sheep, and 2 moufflons (cross-bred); and in March, a hog deer, 10 cavies, 19 mice, 1 Angora sheep, and many birds.
Here follows the usual final benediction from the guide-book:
‘May the favour of the Royal house, of the magistrates and the public go on for ever, and may it always be an ornament of our beautiful Dresden!’
A FOUR-HORNED GOAT, DRESDEN.
This is a very large Garden, situated in a wood. On entering at the west gate, one is confronted with jackal dens. There is a very good lion house, which contains, besides a fine collection of the larger cats, some Australian dingoes or wild dogs, seldom seen in collections. Passing on, we come to what evidently was a giraffe house, but, alas! the animals are no more. The handsomely painted antelope house contains a very fair collection, including, amongst others, a beautiful pair of water-buck. There were also camels, zebras, and an Indian anoa; the latter, again, is seldom seen in captivity. The collection of wapiti ‘hog’ and other deer is really good. There was a monkey house, well built and well filled. Close by some wolves’ dens there was one of the few specimens of chamois I have seen in captivity. Near some American bison sheds is a goat with four remarkably shaped horns. Close by is a bears’ castle. The Garden, when I saw it, was simply packed with country folk, it being the Whitsuntide holidays. The crowd in front of the stage of the open-air theatre was so dense that it was almost impossible to catch even a glimpse of the music-hall entertainment which was going on all the afternoon.
Whilst I was taking photographs, a gentleman walked quickly up to me and began a long harangue in a very angry tone of voice, accompanied by scowls and many gestures of disapprobation. I listened attentively until he had finished, and then asked: ‘Spraken ze English?’ Whereupon he turned on his heel and walked off as quickly as he had come, not to reappear again.
CHAPTER XXIII
ZOOLOGISCHER GARTEN, BRESLAU: DIRECTOR, HERR GRABOWSKY
On March 9, 1863, Dr. Elwanger and Herr von Ruffer formed a private company with a view to the creation of a Zoological Garden in Breslau. A prospectus was issued to win sympathy and interest for the undertaking, and shares were allotted. The price of each share was fixed at £10, and directly the number of shares rose to 6,000 it was agreed that the work should be started. In September, 1863, the work was begun, a deserted meadow being changed into a park; early in the spring of 1864 the buildings were commenced. Many valuable presents of trees and bushes made the task easier for the committee, whilst a quantity of rather premature presents of animals made it difficult, as there were no houses or attendants ready for them.