24 



ture (exclusive of floors and fittings) for the sum of £4680. 

 The work is now very far advanced, the roof being covered 

 in and the Vt'indows inserted ; and sums, together amount- 

 ing to £4500, have been paid to the contractors on account 

 of the work performed, of which £2550 were charged to 

 extraordinary expenditure in 18S2. 



The plans for the new Reptile-house have been pre- 

 pared by Mr. C. B. TroUope. 



The building measures 120 feet by 60, and is provided 

 with a large porch with double entrance at the front, and 

 with keepers' and workers' rooms at the rear. It is built 

 of brick, with Corsehill-stone dressings. The roof is of 

 iron, slated on the north slopes, and with skylights on 

 the south slopes. The building will be fitted with fixed 

 cages on three sides, leaving a passage in the rear for the 

 keepers. The space of the interior clear of the cages is 

 TOO feet by 50 feet ; and the roof over this portion is in 

 two spans of 25 feet each. 



There will be about ten large cages on the north side 

 and ten smaller cages at the ends. The fronts of the 

 cages, which will be constructed not to open, will be 

 glazed with plate-glass ; the only access to the cages will 

 be from the keepers' passage in the rear, to which the 

 public will not have access. 



The south front of the building will be reserved for 

 small movable cases, such as are now used in the Insect- 

 house. 



The cages will be placed on a platform, about table 

 high, of slate, supported on brick walls. The space under 

 the slate platform will form a chamber for the hot-water 

 pipes, thus confining the heat to the cages as much as 

 possible. 



There will be a large oval tank, about 25 feet by 12 feet, 

 for Crocodiles in the centre of the building, and two smaller 

 ones at the sides. 



b. Other sj^ecial Works. 



The other special works executed in 1882, and charged 

 to extraordinary expenditure, \vere as follows: — The sum 

 of £216 5s. was expended in building a reserve-shed at 

 the back of the Cattle-sheds, for the purpose mainly of 

 accommodating duplicate specimens bred in the Gardens, 



