Resignation of the Assistant Secretary. 



The Council, in announcing the resignation of Mr. 

 Rees of the office of Assistant Secretary, which he has 

 held for upwards of fifteen years with great benefit to the 

 Society, take this opportunity of expressing their high 

 sense of the value of his services throughout that period, 

 which has been, year after year, acknowledged by the 

 various Committees of Auditors in their Annual Reports 

 submitted to the Society. The Council have the satis- 

 faction of stating, that Mr. Rees leaves the Society from 

 circumstances highly advantageous to his prospects in 

 life. 



2. Finances. — a. Income and Expenditure. 



The income of the Society for the year 1844 amounted 

 to £8658 125. ']d., and the payments under the head of 

 Ordinary Expenditure to £8692 12*. : in addition to the 

 above, £2307 6*. 5c?. have been paid on account of Ex- 

 traordinaries : these comprise payments in respect of the 

 new Carnivora Dens, the Museum and its fittings, the 

 repairs and fittings in the Society's House in Hanover 

 Square, and the repairs generally of the Buildings, &c. at 

 the Gardens. 



The Receipt and Expenditure Committee, whose re- 

 appointment was noticed in the last Annual Report of the 

 Council, have continued tlieir labours through the past 

 year. Their object has been to effect the most rigid 

 economy in the general expenses of the Society without 

 impairing its efficiency. It is now proposed to re-arrange 

 the offices of the Scientific Secretary, Assistant Secretary, 

 and Clerk, so as to have all their duties performed by two 

 officers only. This, together with a new system esta- 

 blished of effecting the Repairs of the Gardens, and other 

 reductions already decided on, will produce a veiy con- 

 siderable saving to the Society. 



The Committee have not yet brought their labours to a 

 close, and further economy may be hoped for. 



The Council, with a view of improving the breed of 



