22 



III. GARDENS, REGENT'S PARK. 

 1. Buildings and Works. 



The buildings and walks in the Society's Gardens were 

 kept in good repair during the year 1881 by the ordinary 

 staff of workmen, reinforced by a small number of extra 

 painters during the summer. The buildings specially 

 attended to were the Bears' den, Hyenas' den, Ladies Wait- 

 ing-roomsnearTunnel, and a portion of the Superintendent's 

 House. These were thoroughly repaired and painted, and 

 put into complete order. A new Farrier's Shop adjoining 

 the Smith's Shop was also built, and is likely to prove a 

 great accommodation, as all horses were previously obliged 

 to be shod outside the Gardens. 



As regards new buildings and works, in view of the 

 falling-off of the Society's Income, already alluded to, the 

 Council thought it prudent to restrict, as far as possible, 

 the outlay under this head. The amount spent in this 

 way was therefore only £986 1*. 5d., consisting of the 

 following items : — 



£ s. d. 

 Additions to the Prosector's Office . 495 5 10 

 Insect-house and maintenance . . . 313 12 4 

 Burning ballast (for new Reptile-house) 1/7 3 3 



£986 1 5 



There being no accommodation for occasional visitors 

 and assistants in the Prosector's Office, the Council deter- 

 mined, as announced in their last Report, to make an ad- 

 dition to it of some studies at the back, for Naturalists 

 engaged in special examinations. This work was com- 

 menced in 1880 by the Society's staff of workmen, and 

 the sum of £94 18s. \\d. was expended upon it. The 

 further sum of £495 5s. \0d. was devoted to the same 

 object in 1881, and charged to extraordinary expenditure. 



The studies are now complete, and seem to be in every 

 way suited for the pui-pose intended. As will be seen by 

 reference to a subsequent part of the Report, a consider- 

 able amount of good work has been already done in them. 



As regards the Insect-house, to the fittings and main- 

 tenance of which the sum of £313 \2s. 4d. was devoted 

 and charged to extraordinary expenditure during the 

 past year, the Council are glad to be able to say that the 



