23 



winter of 1878-79, and is, the Council feel confident, fully 

 competent to discharge the duties of the post with efficiency 

 and success. 



6. Menagerie. 



The number of animals belonging to the first tiiree 

 classes of Vertebrates living in the Society's Menagei-ie at 

 the close of 1879 was 1955. The corresponding number 

 on the 31st of December, 1878, was 2178, as will be seen 

 by the subjoined Table : — 



The total number of registered additions to the Mena- 

 gerie in 1879 was 12G6, of which 550 were acquired by 

 pi-esentation, 421 by purchase, 115 were bred in the 

 Gardens, 124 were received on deposit, and 56 obtained 

 in exchange. 



The mode in which these figures compare with those of 

 previous years is shown in the subjoined table : — 



The Council call attention with great pleasure to the 

 large and increasing number of presents now received by 

 the Society, the number of animals thus acquired of late 

 years having exceeded those obtained by purchase. This 

 testifies to the great interest taken in the Society's aflfairs 

 by its friends and correspondents in every part of the 

 world. 



