EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 53 



One of the best indices of the health, spirits and contentment of 

 the animals in the Lion House is to be found in their desire to 

 reproduce their kind. Thus far the results have been as follows : 



Out of the first litter of five lion cubs, one cub died by accident, 

 but the other four have developed as finely as if they had been 

 bred and reared in an African jungle. The second litter of 

 three lion cubs is progressing, and promises to develop success- 

 fully. The young Senegal lioness died in giving birth to her 

 first cubs, as also did the female Indian leopard. A third litter 

 of lion cubs is now due. 



It is believed that the income from the breeding and rearing 

 of young animals in the Lion House will be of material assistance 

 in keeping up the supply of large felines. 



The general health of the animals in the Lion House has been 

 well-nigh perfect, the only death not due to accident being that of 

 the cheetah, which occurred within a comparatively short time 

 after its arrival, and was chargeable to long-standing causes. 



The mechanical working of the Lion House has proven to be 

 one of its best features. The plan for the shifting and transfer 

 of the animals works excellently. Its practical effectiveness may 

 be summarized in the following incident: 



A tigress which was found at six o'clock in the evening with 

 a large piece of bone fast upon one of her canine teeth, and 

 greatly distressed thereby, was taken out of her cage by means of 

 the shifting car, run into the outdoor area, where the remaining 

 daylight was sufficient, the obstruction was removed, and the 

 animal replaced in her cage safely and without worry, in precisely 

 twenty minutes from the assembling of the men to remove her. 



ANIMAL COLLECTIONS. 



During the past year the increase in both the scientific and in- 

 trinsic values of the animal collections of the Park has been 

 really great, and it is by no means expressed in any of the figures 

 representing the number of individuals in the various depart- 

 ments on December 31st. The most noteworthy increase has 

 been in the mammal collections. 



The collections of small mammals, birds and reptiles have so 

 completely filled the installations provided for them that no 

 marked increase has been possible. The Aquatic Birds' House 

 has long been filled to overflowing. The erection of the new 

 house for small mammals, and the consequent removal of the 



