2-970-009 - /Heritage Images

Babylonian Lions just received at the Gardens of the Zoological Society, Regent's-Park, [London], 1856. 'Alderman Finnis has on various occasions given proof of his disposition to support the noble zoological collection in the Regent's-park by that kind of aid which can only be given by the shipowners...[he] has, we believe, for several years past been engaged in transporting the Assyrian marbles, which now enrich the British Museum, from Busrah; and on almost every voyage some new or interesting animal has been taken on board with them for the Zoological Society...The Lion of Assyria figures in an important position on the marbles, and the living specimens, now for the first time exhibited in Europe, will have a peculiar interest to the archaeologist, as well as to the naturalist...the male [is] apparently about two years old, and the female considerably younger'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.