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One of the greatest improvements which have been 

 gradually effected in the Gardens in recent years is the 

 erection of larger, more commodious, and more sub- 

 stantial buildings for the accommodation of the animals 

 than those that existed before. A few examples will 

 suffice to illustrate the successive steps that have been 

 taken in this direction. The primary habitation of the 

 Lions and other large feline animals was the building 

 on the north side of the Tunnel, which many of us may 

 remember as a Reptile-house, and which has been lately 

 restored as a dwelling-place for the smaller Carnivora. 

 The Council Reports of the period frequently speak of 

 the bad accommodation it afforded to the inmates, the 

 consequent injury to their health, and the disagreeable 

 effects on visitors from the closeness of the atmosphere. 

 In September 1843 the terrace, with its double row of 

 cages beneath, was completed ; and the Report of the 

 following spring, speaking of this as " one of the most 

 important works ever undertaken at the Gardens," con- 

 gratulates the Society upon the fact that the anticipations 

 of the increased health of this interesting portion of the 

 collection, resulting from a free exposure to the external air 

 and total absence of artificial heat, have been fully realized. 

 The effects of more air and greater exercise were indeed said 

 to have become visible almost immediately. Animals which 

 were emaciated and sickly before their removal, became 

 plump and sleek in a fortnight after, and the appetites of 

 all were so materially increased that they began to kill 

 and eat each other. This, however, led to an immediate 

 increase in their allowance of food, since which time, it 

 is stated, no further accidents of the kind have occurred. 

 As this structure, looked upon at that period as so great an 

 improvement upon its predecessors, still remains, though 

 adapted for other inmates, we all have an opportunity of 

 contrasting the size of its dens and the provision it affords 

 generally for the health and comfort of the animals and 

 the convenience of visitors, with those of the magnificent 

 building which superseded it in 1876. 



In the Report of the year 1810 it is stated that the only 

 work of considerable magnitude undertaken since the last 

 anniversary was the erection of the " New ]\Ionkey-house," 

 and the Council speak with great satisfaction of the sub- 

 stantial nature of the structure and the superior accommo- 

 dation which its internal arrangements are calculated to 

 afford to its inmates. 



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