12 



questions of the Museum and Carnivora being disposed of, 

 the Council will have naore leisure to turn their attention to 

 the accommodation of the Ruminantia, Gallinacea and other 

 pressing arrangements. 



2. Menagerie. 



The Committee of Auditors have mentioned it in their Re- 

 port as a subject of regi'et " that it has been necessary to ex- 

 pend a less sum in the cost of animals during the past than 

 in the preceding year." This was however rather a matter of 

 prudence than of necessity, for the Council did not consider 

 themselves justified in expending large sums in the pui'chase 

 of animals whilst the contemplated arrangements for their 

 accommodation remained incomplete. In the Monkey and 

 Parrot Houses, where sufficient and proper accommodation 

 is afforded to the inmates, the Collection has always been 

 cai'efuUy maintained in as complete a state as possible, and 

 as soon as the New Carnivora Terrace is fit for their reception, 

 the Council will take care to maintain that part of the Collec- 

 tion in a state worthy of the Society. 



But though the purchases have been on a more limited 

 scale than formerly, the donations have been equally nume- 

 rous during the last as during any preceding season ; and the 

 Council have the pleasing duty of once more recording their 

 thanks to their numerous friends for the zeal and activity 

 which they continue to evince in promoting the objects of the 

 Societj'. The Council beg to direct the attention of the So- 

 ciety more especially to the munificent donations of the Pre- 

 sident and Lady RoUe, and to those of Sir Thomas Reade 

 and Colonel Warrington, two of the oldest and most liberal 

 contributors to the Gardens, 



The Giraffes still continue to enjoy the usual good health 

 which has attended them ever since their arrival in the Gar- 

 dens. The female is again with young, and is expected to 

 calve about the middle of February. The Orang-outan also 

 continues to enjoy excellent health, and the Council congratu- 

 late the Society on the preservation of this rare and interest- 

 ing animal, which has now lived nearly three years and a half 

 at the Gardens, or nearly twice as long as any individual of the 

 species was ever known to live in Europe before. 



