4 



Among the Honoravy Members, the Society has to regret 

 the loss of Sir Thomas Eeade, for many years H.M. Consul- 

 General at Tunis, where he Uberally availed himself of the 

 power afforded by his position to advance the objects of 

 Zoology. The donations of Sir Thomas Reade to the Me- 

 nagerie extended over a period of eighteen years, and in- 

 cluded many of the most valuable Carnivora and Struthious 

 Birds which have existed in the Collection. 



2. Finances. 

 a. Income, 



The Covmcil have again the satisfaction of reporting an in- 

 crease in the gross income of the Society, as compared with 

 that of the pi-ecediug year. The total receipts of 1849, 

 having amounted to .€8771 9s. 8«?., give an increase of j6606 

 8s. ^d. as compared with 1848, and of £1005 14s. ^d. as 

 compared with 1847. 



The Council regard this important result as conclusive 

 evidence in favour of the vigorous measures which they com- 

 menced in 1848 for the improvement of the Menagerie, and 

 the extension of the facilities for visiting it. The increase of 

 .€1124 19s. Qd. in the sum received at the Garden Gates in 

 1849 as compared with 1847, confirms the hope expressed in 

 the last Annual Report, that this source of the Society's in- 

 come will gradually resume the importance presented in the 

 earlier period of its operations. 



The actual increase in the number of Visitors in 1849 as 

 compared with 1848, was 25,265 ; and it is scarcely to be 

 doubted that this increase would have been still larger, had 

 there not been a manifest loss during the months of August 

 and September, as in the case of every other place of public 

 resort, in consequence of the general diminution of travelling, 

 and the removal of lai*ge numbers of residents from the me- 

 tropolis through dread of the prevailing epidemic. 



The Report from the Gates for the current year exhibits 

 an increase of €130 in the Receipts, as compared with the 

 corresponding weeks of 1849, and of €259 10s. Qd. as com- 

 pared with 1848. 



