31 



The Committee, in presenting their Report to the Society, 

 are much gratified in being able to notice the steady increase 

 in the receipts of the Society, indicating as it does a greater 

 appreciation on the part of the Pubhc of the attractions of the 

 Collection, and, it is to be hoped, an increased interest in the 

 study of Zoology. 



On the other hand, they regret to find that with an increase 

 of £606 over the Income of 1848, and of £1006 over that of 

 1847, it has been found necessary further to diminish the 

 funded property of the Society by the sale of £700 Stock, 

 which was, by a recommendation of the last Committee of 

 Audit, limited to a minimum of £5000, " except under cir- 

 cumstances of extraordinary pressure." 



The Liabilities are greater by £412, i. e. £2162 for 1849, 

 against £1750 for 1848, £291 of which is for unclaimed 

 Rent of the house in Hanover Square ; the Committee 

 strongly recommend this sum and the accruing rent to be 

 set apart and invested to meet the demand whenever it may 

 be legally made. 



The Assets are £809 less, i.e. £3932 for 1849, against 

 £4741 in 1848. 



The Garden Sales have greatly increased this year, but this 

 of course is an exceptional case and cannot be looked to for 

 Income. 



The Collection of Animals in the Gardens has unfortunately 

 been diminished by the death of the Bison, the Rhinoceros, 

 and some other valuable specimens ; but many Animals have 

 been added by the munificent gifts of several friends of the 

 Society (the cost of transport of which forms a considerable 

 item in the Expenditui'e) ; the Value of the Collection may 

 therefore be taken as at least equal to the last Estimate. 



The Committee have great pleasure in noticing the dimi-> 

 nished cost for Provisions, although the number of Animals is 

 considerably augmented ; as this is necessarily one of the large 

 items of Expenditure, every saving consistent with the proper 

 keep of the Animals is most satisfactory. 



The increase in the number of Elections of new Fellows is 

 also a source of congratulation and another proof of the greater 

 attraction of the Society ; but nevertheless, from deaths and 

 resignations during the last year, the numbers have been re- 

 duced by seventy, which, although much below the average 

 of the last few years, is still a strong argument in favour of 

 enforcing the most rigid economy and curtailing every expense 



