15 



pursuance of their agreement with Mr. Gould. The beau- 

 tiful Lava pavements which ornament the entrances are 

 the gifts of Messrs. Orsi and Armani. 



2. A house principally constructed of glass and iron for 

 the exhibition of Fish, MoUusca, and other Aquatic Ani- 

 mals. The dimensions of this house are 60 feet by 25 feet, 

 and it is expected that these dimensions will enable the 

 Council to supply, in an effectual and interesting manner, 

 one of the greatest deficiencies which has hitherto existed 

 in all the Vivaria of Europe. 



3. The other works now nearly or entirely complete, are 

 a Pond for Storks, a Pond and Inclosure for the Black- 

 necked Swans, an extension of the Gravel Walks 

 towards the Park Paddocks, and a general restoration of 

 the Walks throughout the Gardens, which were consider- 

 ably injured by the process of drainage, as well as by the 

 immense pressure of Visitors during the past summer. 



2. Menagerie. 



The great progress recorded in the last Annual Report 

 as having been effected in the Menagerie during 1 850, has 

 not only not been diminished by any serious amount of 

 loss, but has been carried to a much higher point of ex- 

 cellence. 



The list of Animals altogether new to the Collection is 

 far more numerous than in any previous year, and includes 

 many of those forms which were among the most striking 

 desiderata. 



The active and increasing support which the Society con- 

 tinues to receive from the Foreign Princes, Noblemen and 

 Gentlemen whose names are recorded among the Donors 

 to the Menagerie, is a subject of the warmest congratula- 

 tion to all who are interested in Zoological Research. The 

 assurances which the Council receive of the satisfaction 

 which Donors experience in the due appreciation of their 

 gifts by the large numbers of persons from every country 

 who visit the Gardens, are the best guarantee for the con- 

 tinuance of this valuable cooperation. The aid thus con- 

 ferred on the Society accomplishes success in many under- 

 takings, which, if attainable at all in any other way, could 

 only be effected at a most enormous expenditure. 



Among the proofs of approval which the Council have 



