ipi^. Irish Societies. 5O 



by its Somali keeper. The other, a remarkably large and fierce Lion from 

 British East Africa, came to Dublin in September. Only one litter of 

 Lion cubs were born during the year, in September, but this comprised 

 the exceptional number of five cubs, a male and four females. Niger and 

 Nigeria, the late King's West African pair, were the })arents. Four Lions 

 were exported during the year, all to Australia, a Lioness having been 

 sent to Adelaide, a Lion and a pair of cubs to Melbourne. The number in 

 the house at the close of the year was twenty-two, ten males and twelve 

 females. 



Besides the litter of five Lion -cubs already recorded, the birth of two 

 Puma-cubs in November has made a welcome addition to our stock of large 

 Felidae ; the Pumas are reared and housed in the open-air dens at some 

 distance from our Lion House. A Black-headed Lemur, born in April, 

 was reared, and is doing well. In June, three Prairie Marmots, and in July 

 three Egvptian Gerbilles were born ; these have likewise been reared suc- 

 cessfully. The birth of a Black-tailed Kangaroo in May is also noteworthy. 

 Among the birds the breeding of Rheas was successfully resumed. None 

 had been hatched during 19 10, but nine were safely brought out by the 

 nursing male in Jul}*, 191 1. Seven of these unfortunately died soon after 

 being hatched, but the surviving two are healthy and likely to thrive. The 

 flock of Rheas roaming freely about the Gardens certainly form a very 

 attractive feature in our collection. 



The number of deaths has been less than in some other years. Our most 

 serious loss was the female Chimpanzee " Jennie," who had lived in the Ape 

 House for over six years ; she died in November. The male Gibbon also died 

 in the summer. Few animals that we ever kept in the Monkey House have 

 been greater favourites with visitors than the three Gibbons that occupied 

 the large central cage for the greater part of 1909, and the death of their 

 last survivor caused a lamented gap, which has now, however, been filled. 

 Another well-known denizen of the Monkey House, whose loss we deplore 

 is the White -collared Mangabey. which died in November, apparently of old 

 age. A Black Ape and other monkeys succumbed to tuberculous disease. 



On the recommendation of the Council's Photographic Committee, the 

 Society's Silver Medal, for the best set of pictures submitted, has been 

 awarded to Mr. S. Amphlet, of Walsall ; Miss L. Spence, Clonelly, Ferman- 

 agh, being highly commended. The Bronze Medal offered to competitors 

 under eighteen years of age, has been won by Miss Ethel Goodman, Dublin. 



The practice of organising popular lectures has been continued, and the 

 Council was so fortunate as to obtain the help of Mr. R. J. Ussher, D.L., 

 M.R.I. A., who addressed a large and appreciative audience in the Royal 

 Dublin Society's Theatre on " Birds and their Breeding Habits." The 

 Council's hearty thanks arc due to Mr. Ussher for this lecture, and also to 

 the Council of the Royal Dublin Society for the use of the Lecture Theatre 

 on that occasion as well as for our annual meeting. 



The adoption of the Report was seconded by Sir Neville Lyttleton and 

 carried. A change in the rule regarding the election of honorary Vice- 

 Presidents— twenty years on the Council instead of twent^'-five to qualify 

 in future was agreed to. Prof. J. Bayley Butler, Sir John Ross of Bladens- 

 burg, and Col. Claude Cane were chosen to fill vacancies on the Council. 



