THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
The Zoological Society of London: a Sketch of its Foundation and Development. By Henry Scherren, F.Z.S. (Cassell and Co. 30s. net.)—In writing the history of the Zoological Society from its foundation in 1826 down to the year 1904 Mr. Scherren has had access to the Society's records, and has availed himself of every source of information. The Society grew by a process of natural development out of the Zoological Club of the Linnean Society. The story of this is very fully told in Mr. Scherren's first chapter, and the subsequent ones each cover a decade. Besides the growth of the gardens in Regent's Park, the history of the farm at Kingston—now given up—the museum, the library in Hanover Square, and the scientific publications is told in greater or leas detail. There is an account of the more notable inmates of the menagerie; how they were obtained, the prices paid, the date when they were first exhibited in the gardens, the manner in which they bred or flourished, and the causes of their deaths. In fact, a vast amount of interesting matter not hitherto accessible is placed before the reader. We need not say that an account of the 'Jumbo' affair, the sale to Mr. Barnum, and the abortive proceedings in the Chancery Court, is not omitted. It is, indeed, one of the strangest episodes in the history of the Society and of the English people. An epidemic of elephantiasis suddenly deprived many thousands of persons of their senses and reason. The student of slAng and cant phrases may be interested to know that the contraction "Zoo," by which name the gardens in Regent's Park are familiarly known, can be traced to a song made popular in the year 1867 by a music-hall singer named Vance, who is immortalised in Stevenson's Wrong Box. Coming down to later times, the reader who is interested in the prosperity of the Society will turn to the portion of the book which deals with Dr. Sclatees retirement, the struggle over the secretaryship, and the work of the reorganisation committee, which led to great economies and reforms. Under its eighth president, the Duke of Bedford, to whom Mr. Scherren dedicates this book, the Society is in a more flourishing condition than ever before. No one who has visited the gardens within the last year can have failed to notice the vast improve- ments that have taken place there. A number of pretty coloured plates from water-colours done in the gardens embellish the book, though more interesting are the numerous uncoloured plates which reproduce old pictures from the "Zoological Keepsake," from the Illustrated London News, as well as some of Joseph Wolf's incomparable drawings of animals, and a few modern photographs. Altogether, Mr. Scherren has done his work well, though the nature of the subject makes it bard to avoid a rather disjointed narrative. The book was certainly one that ought to have been written, and will be found full of interest for those whose idea of the Zoological Gardens goes beyond that of the average visitor, who regards it as a pleasant place to spend a Sunday afternoon in summer.
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