36 



Among losses during tlie year should be recorded the carrying 

 off of a Magellan goose, when setting on her nest of eggs, by 

 the badger, which has a large earth in Queen's Cottage grounds, 

 and the similar fate of the Muscovy duck, which had a nest near 

 that of the goose, A bar-headed goose has also been lost, appar- 

 ently from the same cause. 



During the breeding season many of the ducks wander to the 

 further parts of the Gardens, and sometimes stray beyond the 

 boundaries, and get to the river. The chestnut-breasted teal and 

 a pair of wandering tree-ducks were the most serious losses 

 this year. 



Several interesting birds have been added to the Kew Col- 

 lection by presentation or by exchange during the past year, and 

 we are indebted to Mr. W. H. St. Quintin, of Scampston 

 Hall, Eillington, York, for a pair of American wigeon, and we 

 also received three chestnut-breasted teal from him, in exchange 

 for Kew-reared birds, to replace those lost in the summer. 



One chestnut-breasted teal, a pair of wandering tree-ducks. 



th'ree Magellan geese, and a Muscovy duck from the Zoological 



Society of London, a pair of herons from the Right Hon. James 

 Round, of Birch Hall, near Colchester. A pair of Brent geese 

 and a peacock were presented by H.M, Office of Works. One 

 pair of white-eyed ducks were received in exchange from Mr. G. 

 Legge, Patshull House, Wolverhampton. A pair of magpie 

 geese were received in exchange from Commander Oliver Back- 

 house, H.M.S- Excellent^ Portsmouth, and two mandarin ducks 

 from Sir Richard Graham, I^etherby, 



A presentation of a pair of peacocks and a pair of brown China 

 geese was made to H.M.S. Ewcelleiity Portsmouth, and of a pair 

 of brown China and Canadian geese to the Fitzgerald Park, 

 Cork, and of Carolina ducks to H.M. Office of Works for the 

 ornamental water in St. James's Park. 



A consignment of young penguins was very kindly sent by 

 Dr. Peringuey from Cape Town for the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 but owing to the difficulty experienced in keeping the birds 

 previously received within bounds, they have been left in charge 

 of the Zoological Society, Regent's Park, London. 



Official Visits. —During the past year the vote for travelling 



Quinquennial 



expenses has been utilised as follows : 

 The Curator. ~_ 1 l.! ^ 



Exhibition of the Royal Society of Agriculture and Botany of 



Ghent and to horticultural establishments in Belgium. 



The ^ Assistant Curator. — To visit the arboretum of the 

 Marquis of Headfort, in process of formation, and other gardens 

 in the East of Ireland, and in a visit to Mr. Allard's arboretum 

 at Angers, and other private and nursery gardens in France. 



Mr. Irving.— In visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edin- 

 burgh, and horticultural establishments in the neighbourhood. 



Mr. Taylor. — In visits to gardens in the south and south-west 

 of Ireland. 



The Keeper of the Herbarium. — For the purpose of attend- 



