I 



9 



Monkey-house, the Circular Aviary, and in that depart- 

 ment adjoining the Superintendent's house now appropria- 

 ted to tlie smaller quadrupeds. The plans for the new Mon- 

 key-house are in a state of forwardness, and it is hoped that 

 the building will soon be commenced. The Council believe 

 that the cost of this work will require little or no invasion 

 of the Invested Capital : but they are persuaded that, set- 

 ting aside motives of humanity, the Society could not dis- 

 pose of a portion of these funds more profitably than in 

 erecting and furnishing with the most effective means of 

 warmth and ventilation, buildings for the animals which re- 

 quire artificial temperature. 



MUSEUM. 



Under the head of Museum may be included a notice of 

 the acts by which the Society, as one of the scientific as- 

 sociations of this country, has contributed to the advance- 

 ment of Zoology during the past year. The Museum is, in 

 fact, essential to the well- and profitably-conducting of the 

 business of the evening meetings : in the Museum are per- 

 formed the greater part of the dissections of the rarer ani- 

 mals, by which are determined the relations that subsist be- 

 tween the organization of the species and its living habits 

 and peculiarities : and lastly, to the Museum the Zoologist, 

 from abroad or at home, resorts for the solution of his 

 doubts and inquiries, and for the comparison of his own 

 rarities with the rich and well-arranged series of specimens 

 which now constitute so important and valuable a depart- 

 ment of the property of the Society. 



On a retrospect of the scientific business transacted at 

 the evening meetings of the Society, the Council perceive 

 with pleasure that the interest and value of the communica- 

 tions thei'e read and discussed continue undiminished. 



The Museum of the Society continues to be enriched, 

 and its scientific usefulness extended, by the munificence of 

 many benefactors : among these will be found some of the 

 most distinguished Zoologists in the world. 



The Council must refer to the Society's records for the 

 particulars of most of these donations, and content them- 



