ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF THE SOCIETY OF ZOOLOGY, ‘NATURA ARTIS
MAGISTRA,’ AMSTERDAM: DIRECTOR, DR. C. KERBERT
The Zoological Gardens at Amsterdam are the third oldest institution
of their kind in Europe, the Jardin des Plantes coming first, and the
London Zoological Gardens second. Besides the Gardens of the Society of
Zoology, ‘Natura artis magistra,’ Amsterdam possesses a large Aquarium,
a Zoological Museum, and a Scientific Library of Natural History.
Encouraged by the success of the Zoological Gardens in London, M. G.
F. Westerman of Amsterdam conceived the idea of founding a similar
institution in his native town. However, his initial efforts in 1836
failed. At length an opportunity presented itself. M. R. Draak, a
great student of natural history, who possessed an important private
collection of stuffed birds, fishes, etc., valued at 8,000 francs at
least, wished to transfer them into more spacious quarters. In order
to achieve this, he sought the assistance of M. Westerman, known
throughout Europe for his interest in natural history. He, on his part,
always ready to assist anyone fond of natural history, succeeded in
obtaining a site in 1837, and built and arranged a natural history
museum upon it. It was opened to the public for a small entrance fee
the same year. In spite of great efforts, the enterprise flourished
but little; but, aided by two friends, M. Westerman bought other large
buildings, and laid out some beautiful gardens, which he thought
would be more attractive to the visitors. When in possession of these
gardens, the proprietors tried to give more force to their enterprise
by addressing the following circular to the inhabitants of Amsterdam:
[Illustration: CONCERT-HOUSE AND LAKE, AMSTERDAM.]
‘NATURA ARTIS MAGISTRA
‘A society has been formed under this title, having for its object the
study of natural history in an agreeable and attractive form, not
only by exhibiting stuffed animals, but also by a collection of living
animals and birds.’
In a very short time 120 persons, whose numbers quickly rose to 400,
gave their services and help to the enterprise, and were inscribed as
members of the Society, paying an annual subscription.
Encouraged by this first success, the Council decided to negotiate for
a loan, with part of which a convenient site was arranged to receive
the collections of M. R. Draak. Gradually the number of members of the
Society rose, and in 1839, with the authority of the general assembly,
the menagerie of C. van Ascen, at that time well known, was bought.
Bitter disappointment was, however, caused when the Council, who had
asked permission of the municipal authorities to build further houses
on their grounds for the animals of the above-mentioned menagerie, were
given permission, but on such bad terms that their request was to all
intents and purposes met by a refusal. With much regret, the Society
was therefore obliged to lodge the animals provisionally in some
barrack-stables.
However, little by little other buildings were acquired, with large
gardens, and the collection of living animals and objects for the
museum was enriched both by generous gifts and by purchases.
In 1840 the Society numbered 700 members, and in 1841 the number
rose to 1,000. The members then agreed to pay double the former
subscription--_i.e._, twenty francs. The grounds had now increased to
the extent of three and a quarter acres. In 1843 M. Westerman, at the
request of the Council of Administration, was put at the head of the
Society, and accepted the entire control of it, which, in spite of his
age, he continued to hold until his death.
In May, 1850, the Gardens occupied nearly five acres, and in the same
year the Council instituted attractive concerts twice a week. In April,
1852, His Majesty the King paid a visit to the Gardens, with which he
was much pleased. He presented them with his portrait, and gave the
Society the name of ‘The Royal Zoological Society.’ In 1877 the last
enlargement of the premises was completed. The Society, after many
futile efforts, succeeded in obtaining from the Municipal Council a
piece of land, on condition that the Society should erect on the site
a large building, to be utilized as an aquarium, and that superior
instruction in Zoology should be given to the University of the town,
partly at the Society’s expense. In all, the extent of the Gardens was
increased to more than twenty-five acres, for which 463,369 francs were
paid.
In 1888, the year in which the Society held its fiftieth anniversary,
there were in the Gardens 378 animals of 141 different kinds, 2,009
birds of 462 different kinds, and 77 reptiles of 28 kinds.
The aquarium, opened in 1882, consists of a large and small hall, in
which are three big reservoirs containing sea water and fresh, pumped
in by machinery after having been well filtered. In the large hall will
be found sea-water tanks, the two fresh-water tanks being in the small
hall. There is a very rich collection of fish in them from all parts of
the world, and many others have been bred there. Besides contributing
to the enjoyment of the public, this aquarium is greatly used for
research work and the study of anatomy. Here Dr. Kerbert discovered
the hitherto unknown fish parasite, _Chromatophagus parasiticus_. This
aquarium is justly considered one of the most important institutions
of its kind in Europe. For the study of ethnography a large museum
has been built, in which is housed a fine collection of objects
appertaining to that subject. Another spacious room was built during
recent years for the rich collection of skeletons which the Society
possessed, containing the celebrated collections of G. and E. Vrolik
and the skeletons of animals which have died in the Gardens. The total
number of skulls and skeletons reaches 1,500, and they are exhibited on
long shelves.
After the aquarium had been opened, three rooms were reserved for
the collection of Crustacea, Molluscs, Echinides, Zoophytes, and
Polyparies, with the famous collection of sponges, which is unsurpassed
in any other museum. The total number of objects kept in these three
rooms is 5,976. In this part of the museum is to be found a valuable
collection of marine animals, brought from the Arctic regions by M.
Barents and M. Varna. During the last three years a collection of
_local_ animals has been commenced. In the second room of the museum
you find not only a collection of stuffed animals and birds, with
their eggs and nests, but also a collection of indigenous shells,
fish, reptiles and the lower animals. The insects are lodged in three
cabinets--one for the indigenous butterflies and moths, one for the
exotic lepidoptera, and one for the coleoptera or beetles, arranged in
920 drawers.
The scientific library is very rich in works on natural history;
amongst other volumes is to be seen a complete edition of the works of
Gould, the celebrated ornithologist. The library contains 5,131 books.
There are in the museum upwards of 975 stuffed animals and 3,478 birds.
The collection of shells is the most beautiful and most important which
exists.
After the death of M. Westerman in 1890, the directorship of the
Society was conferred upon Dr. C. Kerbert, who was formerly conservator
of the aquarium.
* * * * *
The fee for admission to these large Gardens is one gulden. There are
no less than fifty different houses or pens, besides the aquarium (one
of the finest in Europe), and four museums.
Turning to the left after paying at the turnstile, one sees the llama
pens, containing specimens of the huanaco, the vicuna and the alpaca;
near them are two camels of different kinds. Close by is a pretty
little deer shed, one of the inmates of which is a very fine example of
Père David’s deer from Manchuria. The insect house is next encountered,
with a good collection of living caterpillars and chrysalides in
glass-cases. Some specimens of the atlas moth and common swallow-tail
butterfly had just emerged (May 2). Passing through a door, the visitor
comes to a reptile house, well lighted and heated. Here are to be seen
some very fine examples of pythons from Java, boa-constrictors and
other large snakes, tortoises, lizards, alligators and a Temminck’s
snapper. In the centre of this room are three specimens of the curious
Surinam sloth (_Cholopus didactylus_), hanging from horizontal bars
by large curved claws. Passing through a door, you find yourself in
the parrot house, which is well filled with the brilliant-coloured
noisy birds. Here, also, was the magnificent bird of paradise from New
Guinea, and the curious wingless kiwi from New Zealand. A monkey house,
well stocked, is next passed, and we then come to the large duck-pond,
simply teeming with mute swans, wild swans, black swans, bernacle and
Canadian geese, gannets, gadwalls, sheldrake, mallard, wigeon, teal,
pintail and flamingoes. We next see a very fine pair of American bison,
and two young ones born in the Gardens. The crane and wading-bird pens
are close at hand, one large pen containing an extraordinary number of
coots, rails and oyster-catchers, all looking the picture of health.
There is a long, well-lighted lion house, built in 1859, containing
twelve cages inhabited by a pair of lions from Somaliland, a pair of
tigers from Delhi, some leopards and jaguars, and a pair of pumas, with
their young born in the Gardens.
We now come to the elephant house, built in 1897, in which are housed
four Indian elephants and a tapir. In the antelope house, which stands
near, are a fine pair of elands in a large roomy paddock, water-buck,
a harnessed antelope and its baby, a brindled gnu, an oryx, and the
rare inyala. Next, we find a very fine collection of birds of prey,
including a beautiful specimen of the Bateleur eagle from Africa.
We now come to the ethnological or anthropological museum, built in
1888, containing native armour, weapons, dress, etc., from all parts
of the world, and many draped waxen figures (life-size) of Chinese and
Japanese. Behind this museum are some black-and-white yaks from Thibet,
and several zebras from India. Further on is the skeleton museum, and
after that we come to a hippopotamus house, containing two specimens
of this huge pachyderm. They are very well housed, having, besides
their large bathing-tanks inside, an outdoor playground and water-tank.
Passing through a large conservatory, full of trees and plants, we come
to an extremely picturesque seal grotto, and close by a deer shed.
[Illustration: YAK, AMSTERDAM.]
The aquarium is reached next, for admission to which an extra charge
of fifty cents is made. This building, erected in 1882, is well
worth a visit. Its tanks contain, amongst many others, specimens of
coal-fish, sea-anemones, huge cod, conger-eel, crabs, lobsters, plaice,
lump-sucker, skate, dog-fish, cat-fish, stickleback, king-crab (very
curious), barnacles, newts, gold-fish, pike, barbel, roach, some
magnificent trout, carp, perch, American trout and a salamander. In the
aquarium is a large museum of preserved natural history objects, mostly
fish, shells and reptiles.
After leaving the aquarium, we encounter large pheasantries and peacock
houses, wild-sheep pens, ibis pens and a pigeon house, from which the
birds have free exit. A third museum is found to be full of stuffed
birds, eggs, and nests; some of the birds stuffed in their natural
surroundings are very beautifully done. The zoological library adjoins.
A fourth museum, built in 1894, contains a large collection of stuffed
animals and a collection of shells. Here is a huge skeleton of an
African elephant, with good tusks, and a stuffed giraffe; a whole
unmounted hippopotamus skin, and a stuffed quagga, now extinct.
Close by this museum are some pens containing zebras and wild asses.
The new bear house, built in 1897, contains a fine collection. A large
house, built like a fortress, containing wolves, hyænas and jackals, is
close at hand.
Dr. C. Kerbert very kindly sent me a volume of many hundred pages,
containing the names of all the specimens in the gardens, aquarium, and
museums; but in a work of this size it would be utterly impossible to
give the names of even one-quarter of the treasures that are contained
in these most remarkable Gardens.