The Columbus journal., 1908-07-29

The London Geological gardens dif-
fer in two respects from the vast ma
jority of similar institutions in Europe
and America, and these differences
have much to do with their past his
tory and future development. In the
first place. the Geological society OF
London, which created and maintains
the gardens, enjoys no subsidy from
the state or the municipality. 1t pays
rent for its ground, and rates ana
taxes; it has to support the vast ex-
penses Of its scientific work. Of the
erection and maintenance of buildings,
of the necessary staff, commissariat.
advertising, and cost and carriage OF
animals, except in those fortunate
cases where animals are presented and
delivered free.
Its revenue is derived from receipts
1T the gates, from occasional sales,
from publications. and from the sub
scriptions of Fellows. The financial
burden is great, and every innovation
has to be considered most anxiously
IN the light of its possible bearing on
income and expenditure.
The second determining peculiarly
is that the Geological society of Lon
don is a scientific society. According
! 20 the charter of incorporation. grant
| ed to it in 1929 by King George w.,
it's objects were the advancement OF
! zoology and animal physiology. and
! the introduction of new and curious
subjects of the animal kingdom" To
| maintain an exhibition attractive to
the public it would probably be I'M
necessary to go beyond some 400 or
500 different kinds of mammals, birds
and reptiles. and not one visitor IN a
thousand would realize that such col
lection was very poor. The Geological
society, to fulfill its functions. has to
range the globe for animals that are
new and curious; and since its founda-
ton il has been able to exhibit about
900 different species of mammals
900 different species of birds, and
600 of reptiles, while every year Is
adding to these numbers. No other col
lection of living animals can even ap
psoach these numbers. So great and
varied a set of animals has always OF
fered, a large field for scientific
work.
When the ZOO was first opened II
Regents park, it was very mucl
smaller in area, and the individual
dens and Enclosures for its inhabit
ants were designed on a small scale
The tradition of the travelin.
menagerie reigned supreme; ant
structures such as the Carnivora ter
.. race, in which the bears are Still
housed. resembled nothing so mucl
as a set of menagerie vans arranged
in a double row. 1t is certainly SUI
, prising how even large animals vii
maintain health and spirits in YER
narrow quarters; and there is the ad
vantage to visitors that it is possible
: approach them more closely, and t
, some extent see them better tha
: when they are placed in more naturs
: conditions. The authorities of the 81
i ciety, especially in recent years. hav
? taken the view that the study of an
e mails as specimens is best done o
stuffed examples in museums. an
y that a living collection should be a
o ranged, so far as possible, in such
e way as to display the natural habit
n and capacities of the living creature
I And so, as space and funds have pc
h ! mitted. larger Enclosures have bee
g formed.
y may mention some of the more II
j teresting of these. A great, undula
= ing space has been turned into
o semblance of the South African de
n erts. provided with rockwork and CO
+ cred with yellow sand and single.
y this. Glands, the largest of the ant
u Iopes. a number of small antelope
IS pstriches and occasionally zebras al
allowed to roam. The old sea lion
E. pond. a kind of concrete basin. h;
,e been replaced by a large pond vii
n rocky islands, dominated by a DO
y, mass of shelving rocks. in which cav
in form natural shelters, and from Il
a. a. lodges of which the sea lions dive
a pursuit of fish.
A beginning is being made with Il