During my visit to the menagerie in Paris, I entered an enclosure for tropical birds, and produced a field sketch. Looking back, this artificial island reminds me of the constructed island at Walton that I sketched in my notebook from my bedroom window. Reflecting on my travels, my journey has been fruitful, but I am …
In the year 1867, Andrew Downs traveled from Halifax to Paris, where he helped to install the Nova Scotian display at the World Exhibition. Later that year, Halifax’s local newspaper, The Acadian Recorder, announced the seasonal opening of Downs’ Zoological Gardens, remarking on June 12th, 1867 that: “We presume that during his visit to Paris, … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 6: Jardin des Plantes et Animaux
Throughout my travels, I have wandered past rows of glass cabinets, 19th century cupboards, zoological laboratories, and dioramas. I have been searching for Andrew Downs’ specimens— animals taken from the forests of Nova Scotia, who passed through the proprietor’s hands before joining zoological collections in museums abroad. At this time, I have yet to locate any … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 5: Visitation
I have sourced ornithological specimens at Cambridge University that were sent from Halifax, NS during the time of Andrew Downs. Although one of the bird skins has a donor recorded on its label, the other specimens do not indicate their captors. Therefore, it is possible that Andrew Downs prepared one of these skins and sent … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 4: To Cambridge
During his 1864 voyage, Downs was a distinguished guest at the home of naturalist Charles Waterton. As mentioned earlier, the two ornithologists corresponded regularly and maintained a professional friendship over the years. Waterton inherited woodland which he protected as a large sanctuary for birds, enclosing the property with a nine foot stone wall. His estate … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 3: Preservation
As I retrace Andrew Downs’ professional development opportunities in Europe at the peak of his career, I am recalling the wildlife specimens he procured for institutions abroad. Halifax’s local papers and articles speak of Downs’ prolific distribution of Nova Scotian specimens, yet there is no mention of where. The naturalist, editor, and friend of Andrew … Continue reading An Aside: Museology
I’ve visited the ZSL Archives in London and after reading through Minutes of Council and Annual Reports, I have confirmed that Andrew Downs was a Corresponding Member of the Society, elected in 1862, evidence of which is seen below: According to my research in the Nova Scotia Archives, during his 1864 overseas visit, Downs traveled … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 2: Records
By the middle of the 19th century, Andrew Downs had become a respected naturalist at home and abroad; those seeking familiarity with Nova Scotian forests and wildlife would turn to Downs for guidance and specimens. Royalty and nobility abroad became familiar with his work after his medal-earning taxidermy displays in the world exhibitions of the … Continue reading Part 2, Chapter 1: Zoological Design
As previously discussed, Andrew Downs’ Zoological Gardens housed an aquarium, a natural history museum, and they were teaming with varied bird life; but, they were also home to many species of mammals. Black bears, beavers, coyotes, and wild cats were residents here, living in small enclosures within the original five acres of the zoo. As … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 9: Fauna
Andrew Downs was considered one of the leading Canadian ornithologists of his time, and his zoological gardens were filled with numerous species of birds. To quote an article published in the journal NATURE, the naturalist Charles Hallock wrote about the zoo’s bird life while recounting one of his visits to the premises: …tumbler pigeons throw summersets … Continue reading Part 1, Chapter 8: Ornithologist
The Memorialist 