178 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the keepers' passage at the back, to which the public are not 

 admitted. On the south side are movable glass cages, on 

 stands, for small lizards and snakes, and recently an inner row 

 of terraria for frogs and toads has been added. In the centre is 

 a large oval tank, about 25 ft. in the longer and 12 ft. in the 

 shorter diameter, for large crocodiles and alligators, with one, 

 less ample, on each side, for smaller aquatic reptiles. 



The general plan of distribution is that the large cages on 

 the north side are occupied by boas and pythons, and the 

 smaller ones at the east and west end by the innocuous and 

 venomous serpents respectively. Some of the larger lizards, 

 however, are often exhibited in these cages. 



As may be imagined, the operation of shifting the reptiles 

 was not easy, but it was fortunately effected without any 

 mishap to man or beast. The larger serpents and crocodiles 

 were secured, not without difficulty, in stout canvas bags, and 

 so carried from the old house to the new. More caution was 

 necessary with the venomous snakes, which were boxed up 

 before they were removed from the cages in the old house. 

 This obviated all risk during transport across the Gardens. 

 The box was deposited in the new cage, and the experienced 

 keepers soon transferred the reptiles to stronger and more 

 roomy quarters. 



On January 17, 1884, Messrs. Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson 

 deposited a male Burmese elephant, described in the " List of 

 Additions " as of the " mottled variety," which the owners said 

 was a sacred white elephant. People flocked to the Gardens to 

 see it ; the admissions on Monday, January 21, were returned at 

 6,594, the average for Monday at that time of the year being 

 about 700. One regrettable incident was the introduction by 

 the owners of some natives, said, incorrectly, to be Burmese 

 priests. Of these the Times of January 28 remarked that 

 the "title priest might be used in their case with some such 

 modifications as attach to the white of the elephant." Their 

 pretensions were exposed by Professor T. W. Rhys David, and 

 their performances came to an end. 



At the Anniversary Meeting the Council reported that the 

 reptile house seemed to answer its purpose in every way, and 

 afforded great facilities for the examination by the public of the 



