11 



They include a most useful addition to the north side of 

 the Carnivora Terrace, which has effectually protected the 

 animals confined there from the inclemency of the weather, 

 insomuch that not a single instance of death has occurred 

 among that section of the Menagerie. This has been ac- 

 compUshed at a cost of less than £100. 



b. Menagerie. 



The general health of the Menagerie has been most 

 satisfactory, and, with the exception of the death of the 

 large female Elephant, the losses have been unprecedently 

 small. 



It should be remarked that the death of the Elephant, 

 from the influence of a thunder-storm, was the result of a 

 cause against which no precaution could have been exerted 

 on the part of the Establishment, and must be regarded as 

 one of those unforeseen contingencies which no skill can 

 avert in so extensive a property as that of the Society, 

 which at the present time includes no less than 



175 species of Mammalia. 

 372 „ Birds. 



41 ., Reptiles. 



27 „ Fish. 



In all 615 species of vertebrate animals, represented by 

 1248 individual specimens, exclusive of a very large col- 

 lection of Zoophytes, Annelides, and other of the Inverte- 

 brate Types, of which it is almost impossible to present an 

 accurate return. 



The Council have to record, as in former years, a long 

 list of Donations, remarkable not only as objects of intrin- 

 sic worth, but as evidence of the continued interest taken 

 by the Donors in the advancement and welfare of the 

 Society. 



Among these valued gifts are particularly to be noticed 

 a fine pair of Nylghau Antilopes from India, and a very 

 prolific earless variety of the Domestic Sheep from Shang- 

 hai, presented by His Royal Highness Prince Albert ; and 

 a collection of animals, chiefly Carnivora, presented by 

 His Majesty the King of Portugal. 



Among the animals bred in the Menagerie, the Elands, 

 as anticipated in the last Report, take the most conspicu- 

 ous place; and the Council have great satisfaction in stating 

 that they have recently disposed of the first draft of the 



