In 1830 His Majesty King William IV. presented to the London Society all the animals in the royal menagerie in Windsor Park. Amongst these there were fourteen wapiti deer, of which two were sent to Dublin, along with one Sambur deer, one nylgai, two emus, two ostriches, and quite a number of less important animals. These animals arrived some time in June, 1831. There is a note in the minute-book (on the 25th of that month) to the effect that Dr. Stokes was empowered ‘to send Godden to London as soon as possible to take charge of the animals, and bring them over by the London steamer.’ In 1831 the King handed over to the London Society the collection of animals that was kept in the London Tower, and on this occasion he expressed a wish that such as were not required for Regent’s Park should be sent to the Zoological Society of Dublin. In this manner the first royal gift of animals came to Dublin. It consisted of a wolf, a leopard, and a hyæna. The modest character of the operations of the Society during the first two years may be gathered from the entries of the weekly payments. On May 25, 1832, ‘wages, labour, and provisions for the last week’ came to £6 2s. 9d. This may be taken as a sample of the weekly expenditure, but it does not represent the total outlay upon provisions, because bills were run for several items of food for the animals. The Gardens were opened to the public on September 1, 1831. The following advertisement appeared in the _Saunders’ Newsletter_ on the morning of that day: ‘ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. ‘The Zoological Garden in the Phœnix Park, under the patronage of His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, will be opened for visitors on this day, Thursday, September 1, at nine o’clock in the morning, and will not be closed until a late hour in the day. ‘All persons are to be admitted for sixpence each, and they are to write their names at the gate. ‘A member who has paid his subscription, and two friends coming with him, are admitted free of expense. ‘Members are also allowed to purchase transferable tickets. ‘The Committee request that visitors may leave their sticks and umbrellas at the gate, and that children may be kept from approaching too near to the bars which confine the animals. ‘J. Pim, Esq., 41, Dame Street, continues to receive subscriptions and donations. ‘The first day’s receipts will be given to the Mendicity Institution.’ On January 10, 1833, Mr. Drewett was appointed Superintendent at a salary of £100 a year, with £20 per annum for house-rent, until such time as a house could be provided. The Society met on November 19 at Hunt’s Hotel, Dawson Street, and Dr. Whitley Stokes read the first report of the Committee of Management. It would appear that from the opening of the Gardens, September 1, 1831, up to November 1, 1832, 36,497 visitors had paid for admission. The Treasurer’s statement gave the following items: