16 



fine specimens of Vultur papa, and two extremely beautiful 

 females of the South American Tapir, Tapirus americanus. 



The Council have great gratification in reporting that 

 they have received active assurances of assistance from 

 Mr. Christie, H.M. Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge 

 d'Aftaires in the Argentine Republic, from which they an- 

 ticipate some interesting results in respect to the Zoology 

 of that portion of South America. Mr. Christie has pre- 

 sented to the Society a couple of female Pumas, which, at 

 the time they ax'rived, made an opportune addition to the 

 fine series of Carnivora, in which that species -was wanting. 



The Council have received similar assurances of coope- 

 ration from His Excellency Capt. T. E. L. Moore, R.N., 

 Governor of the Falkland Islands, whence some extremely 

 valuable additions to the species of Water-fowl already in 

 the Collection may be expected. 



The Smithsonian Institution of Philadelphia have made 

 offers of their valuable mediation in obtaining the animals 

 of the States, and of the territory which extends to the 

 Rocky Mountains ; and the officers of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company continue their cooperation in the still more dif- 

 ficult work of securing additions to the Menagerie from 

 the Fur countries of the North and North-west. 



With such powerful and wide-spreading correspond- 

 ence, the Council have reasonable grounds for stating, that 

 however large a number of animals have been exhibited in 

 past years, there is still room to surpass all that they have 

 yet done in this respect, and that they are now, after nearly 

 thirty years of labour, in a more favourable position for 

 realizing the principal object of the Institution, namely, 

 the acclimatation of exotic species, than at any previous 

 period. 



Considerable progress has been made during the past 

 year, as will be seen from the following : — 



List of Mammalia exhibited for the First Time, 

 1856-1857. 



Brindled Gnu. Catoblepas taurinus. S. Africa. 



Oryx Antelope. Oryx Beatrix, n. sp. India ? 



Brazilian Deer. C. campestris. Demerara. 



Markhoor Goat. Capra Falconeri. N. India. 



Black-faced Kangaroo. Macropus melanops. Australia. 



Le Vaillant's Cynictis. Cynictis Levaillantii. S. A/rica. 



