34 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
Income Account.—During the year the Income Account proved 
inadequate to maintain the work of the Society, and a special 
subscription, totaling $9,850, was raised among the members 
of the Board of Managers. On January 1, 1909, this account 
showed a balance of $6,106.54. An increased membership is 
necessary to maintain this fund without a deficit. 
The Executive Committee decided to ask one hundred members 
of the New York Zoological Society each for a special contribu- 
tion of $40 a year, for the years 1909 to 1913, inclusive. This 
will offset the estimated annual deficit of the Income Account on 
its present basis. The responses to this request have been most 
gratifying. The committee also resolved that those subscribing 
to such Sustaining Membership should have the right to desig- 
nate a Life Member of the Society, upon the completion of the 
payments of the subscription for the five years, amounting to 
$200. 
General Fund.—The General Fund shows a balance of $207.80. 
Ground Improvement Fund.—On January 1, 1908, there was a 
balance in the Ground Improvement Fund of $149,757.05, and 
during the year $65,000 has been appropriated by the City; also, 
$4,073.44 being the premium on the sale of bonds. During the 
year the sum of $147,608.25 has been expended, leaving a bal- 
ance of $71,222.24 available for new construction. 
Stokes’ Bird Fund.—On January 1, 1909, this fund donated 
to the Society by Miss Caroline Phelps Stokes for the protection 
of bird life, showed a balance of income of $519.11. The princi- 
pal, viz., $3,009.58 is invested in three [linois Central Railway 
4 per cent. Gold Bonds. Through the further generosity of Miss 
Stokes this fund has been increased to a total of $5,000, and her 
wishes regarding the use of the income of her fund was ex- 
pressed in the following very liberal terms: 
“T should like to ask that the income of the fund shall be 
annually expended, * * * and I am entirely willing that it 
should be used in any part of the United States, or our country’s 
possessions, wherever there is the most or special need for en- 
lightenment, or protection of bird life.” 
Maintenance of the Zoological Park.—The amount provided 
by the City for the maintenance of the Park for the year 1908, 
$154,627, was found insufficient to maintain the Park for that 
year in an adequate manner. In view of that fact the Board of 
Estimate appropriated the sum of $162,325 for maintenance for 
the year 1909, which is an increase of $7,698 over the year 1908. 
