WHY NOT AN EDINBURGH ZOO P t.To Tug EDITOR OF
THE " SPECTATOR...1
SIR,—You are so consistently generous in devoting space to appeals for help to save for thecountry "beauty spots" which may otherwise be destroyed by the builder that the Zoological Society of Scotland looks with confidence to you to publish this present appeal. The Society was started some three years ago under the presidency of Lord Salvesen, and among its vice-presidents are the three Professors of Zoology of the Scottish Universities. The Society has secured one of the " beauty spots" near Edinburgh—a site of seventy-four acres on the south-western slope of Corstorphine Hill, which has been declared by authorities to be the finest site for a Zoological Garden in Europe. It appears that Scotland is almost the only country in Europe without a Zoological Garden, and an appeal is now. being-made to all patriotic Scotsmen at home and abroad to subscribe to a fund to equip the above site, which has been purchased for us by the city of Edinburgh, and to start a collection of animals. Some 28,000 has already been most generously subscribed; but obviously much more is required. The scheme is a national one, not merely confined to Edinburgh. A Zoo- . logical Garden is one of the most humanizing, elevating, and educative influences a nation can possess, and a source of great enjoyment to a large majority of the com- munity. It is not possible to send a separate appeal to everybody ; but we hope with your help to reach many patriotic Scots, and allow them the chance to help the scheme. Subscriptions intimated at once will be doubly valuable. Subscriptions from those abroad any time before May 1st will be moat thankfully received, and donations of interesting animals from any Scots abroad will be most welcome after May 28th next. Subscriptions should be sent to me as Honorary Treasurer at 21 Rutland Street, Edin- burgh, and I shall be glad, if necessary, to supply further
Previous page
