rage of the last 18 years (excluding 1851); particularly if 

 due allo\vance is made for the adverse circumstances of 

 the weather during the earlier months, and the compara- 

 tive paucity of visitors to London throughout the whole 

 season. 



The actual decrease, as compared with 1854, was £2812 

 17*., of which £2345 3s. 6d. is to be accounted for by the 

 diminution of the receipts for public admission to the 

 Gardens. 



That this reduction is not however of a permanent cha- 

 racter, nor the result either of declining interest on the 

 part of the Public, or of deterioration in the attractions of 

 the Establishment, — is satisfactorily shown by the fact 

 that, during the last five months, the decrease was only 

 £426 17s. 6d., so that four-fifths of the whole loss occurred 

 in the first half of the year, and is mainly attributable to 

 the state of the weather at the Easter and Whitsuntide 

 Holidays. 



That other Institutions have suffered, at least in an 

 equal degree, is demonstrated by the recent returns laid 

 before Parliament of the number of visitors to the British 

 Museum, where it must be borne in mind that the whole 

 of the admissions are without payment. 



The total amount received under the head of Garden 

 Admissions was £8453 16*., and has only been exceeded 

 in eight years out of the twenty-eight which have elapsed 

 since the foundation of the Menagerie. 



The Subscriptions present an increase upon the average 

 of the last eight years, and the existing number of Fellows, 

 together with the Candidates already proposed for admis- 

 sion, guarantee a maintenance of this improvement. 



The Admissions and Compositions present a decrease as 

 compared with 1854, in which year an unusual number of 

 Fellows were added to the Society; but the receipt of 

 £310 for Admission Fees, and £430 for Compositions, 



