The first President was Johann Xantus. On August 9, 1866, the Garden was solemnly opened to the public. Xantus resigned shortly after, and a Viennese zoologist, Fitzinger, was appointed; he in his turn resigned, and for a time the Garden did not prosper, perhaps owing partly to the many alterations in the management. Its position was so insecure that new and more sensible methods had to be thought out. Valuable aid was given in 1872 by Dr. Szabo, who had always been a zealous supporter of the Garden. He suggested that the company should be turned into a Society of Acclimatization, and that it should include foreign domestic animals as well as cultivated plants. This idea found much approbation, and the Society took up Szabo’s suggestion. M. Carl Serak was chosen Director of the Garden, and he has managed the affairs of the Garden to this day. Until the year 1873 everything went downhill. To-day the Society possesses a capital of 180,000 gulden, and stands on a level with other similar institutions in Europe. The success of the Garden has been furthered by the help of the Archduke Joseph, for whose gracious support the Garden will always be greatly indebted. Mention should also be made of Andor Semsey, who gave the Society its beautiful aviary. Not only the Government, but also the town, help by continual subscriptions to further the interests of the Garden. * * * * * After a laborious railway journey from Moscow of three days and three nights, including fourteen hours of weary waiting at wayside stations where not a soul speaks any language but Russian, I arrived at length at Buda-Pesth.