40 The Irish Nahiralist. March, 



exhibit is in process of formation, and the Council would acknowledge 

 gratefully valuable help from the Department of Agriculture in its 

 inception and realisation. 



The Anthropoid Apes are now represented only by the two Chimpanzees, 

 " George " and " Charlie " ; the Hoolock Gibbon died at the end of 

 October, having lived in the Gardens almost " for the duration of the war." 

 The death of the Woolly Monkey in April deprived the collection of its 

 last American type, but an interesting series of the African Guenon group 

 (Cercipothecus) renders the Monkey House still attractive to visitors. 

 Especially noteworthy was a specimen of the rare Schlegel's Guenon 

 (C. neglectus) from the Congo district,- on deposit by Mr. McBride, from 

 May until November. 



The stock of older Lions and Lionesses remains as at the close of 

 1 91 7. Three litters of two each were born during 191 8 — from " Red 

 Hugh " and " Maive " in January, from " Finn " and " Hassanatu " in 

 May, and from " Oseni " and " Sheila " in September, Unfortunately, 

 the last-named family died quickly after birth, and the May couple 

 survived only for a few months. The " Oseni " — " Sheila " cubs of July, 

 1917, also had died early in 1918. Five other cubs were exported during 

 the year for sale and exchange, so that the total stock now consists of 

 fourteen animals, seven of either sex. 



The stock of Carnivora generally has suffered through the deaths of 

 the old Tiger (in January), our last Puma, from pleurisy (in March), our 

 last Leopard (in June), the Serval (in September), and the old Timber 

 Wolf (in December). The last-named had lived in the Gardens for 

 twelve years. 



The exhibit of breeds of Domestic Goat, which has been already 

 referred to, will, it is hoped, prove attractive as well as useful. The 

 family of Bornean Zebus was increased by the birth of a fine calf in 

 August. On the other hand, the death of the Llama in December leaves 

 a gap in the collection of herbivores that may not be filled for some time. 



A number of Belgian " Hares " have been added to the collection of 

 Rodents, and it is hoped that some success may be achieved in the 

 breeding of these fancy Rabbits. A species of American marsupial — 

 the Murine Opossum— rarely to be seen in zoological gardens, was 

 acquired in February, and Hved in the Monkey House until midsummer. 

 It was a rather delicate little beast, retiring in its habits. 



Several thousand Trout eggs were kindly given in January by Lord 

 Dunraven. Most of these were reared, and the young fishes were, in 

 April, handed over to Colonel Cane for replenishment of the waters of 

 the Upper Liffey. 



To the regret of the Council, no entries for the Photographic Competition 

 were received during 191 8. Now that restrictions on the use of cameras 

 have been removed, it is to be expected that interest in this pursuit may 

 revive. The Council has further decided to establish annual competitions 

 in painting, drawing and modelling animals from the life. Such 

 competitions used to be held under the Society's auspices sixty years 

 ago, and it is hoped that the step now taken for encouraging work of the 



