which being iinusuaily low, was insufficient to meet the cur- 

 rent expenses of the Society without this appropriation ; 

 but, at the same time, the replacement of these securities was 

 contemplated by the Council at the earliest possible oppor- 

 tunity : and accordingly, in the succeeding month of Janu- 

 ary, when the funds at their disposal were increased by the 

 receipt of the Annual Subscriptions, which became due on 

 the first of that month. Exchequer Bills to the amount 

 of the sum thus temporarily borrowed were purchased on 

 the account of the Society. 



In the same lleport, the Auditors state, that the sum 

 placed under the head of Salaries and Wages is higher than 

 any year since the formation of the Society, although there 

 does not appear to have been any increase of Animals so as 

 to warrant an increased expense. In explanation of this 

 increase, which on comparison with the Auditors' Report 

 o\ 1836 amounts to £94, the Council have to remark, that 

 it has been occasioned, chiefly, b}' the necessity of appoint- 

 ing an additional keeper, in August 183G, to take charge 

 of the Giraffes on the de})arture of the three Nubians from 

 the Gardens; which appointment was judged to be indis- 

 pensable, and it is the only addition that has been made to 

 the establishment of the Society. 



The Auditors also express their surprise that upwards 

 of £717 should have been expended in the purchase of spe- 

 cimens and preparations for the Museum, on the grounds 

 that the locality selected for the exhibition of the Preserved 

 Collection must remove all hope of its ever becoming a 

 source from which the income of the Society may be mate- 

 rially increased. The Council, in expressing their regret at 

 the small amount arising from the exhibition of the Society's 

 valuable Collection in the Museum, have only to observe, 

 that in the selection of the present premises they were 

 guided by the opinions of scientific and practical gentle- 

 men, who considered that the central situation of Leicester 

 Square, and its proximity to other places of amusement, 

 itistified a reasonable expectation that it would meet with 

 a fair share of public support. 



The Auditors in their Report have remarked that the 



