18 
past year having been explained, the Council think it may 
interest the Fellows to hear what, in the opinion of the 
Council, still remains to be done in order to bring the 
Garden-establishment into a state of thorough efficiency. 
After the completion of the yards and ponds of the new 
Elephant-house, and the removal of the old Elephant- 
house (which works are now in progress), the Council are 
of opinion that the most important buildings still remaining 
to be executed may be arranged in the following order :— 
(1) The erection of a Bridge across the Regent’s Park 
Canal, and of new Entrance-Lodges on the Primrose-hill 
Road. The land on the north side of the canal has been 
in the Society’s occupation since Michaelmas last, but 
cannot be rendered available for any useful purpose until 
these works be completed. It has been resolved, there- 
fore, that these shall be the first proceeded with, after the 
completion of the works now in progress. 
(2) The erection of a new Fish-house. The present 
Fish-house (built in 1852) was the first building for the 
exhibition of Fishes and other animals living in water ever 
erected. It was built at a date when the necessary condi- 
tions for preserving animal life in aquaria were very imper- 
fectly understood. Since that period many other similar 
buildings have been erected at various Gardens on the 
Continent, of larger dimensions and on much improved 
principles, such as the Fish-houses in the Jardin d’Acclima- 
tation at Paris, and in the Zoological Garden of Hamburg, 
and the Aquarium-house at Hanover. It is not possible to 
alter the present Fish-house so as to make it thoroughly 
effective, the whole system of construction being radically 
wrong; and the Council have resolved, therefore, to erect. 
a new Fish-house in the south-east corner of the Gardens, 
on the ground lately occupied by the Reservoir, where 
there is ample space for the purpose. The present Fish- 
house may then be devoted to some other purpose, for 
which there will be no difficulty in adapting it. 
(3) The erection of a new Cats-house or House for 
Lions, Tigers, and other larger Felide. Plans for this 
proposed New Building have been already prepared by the 
Society’s Architect, and the sanction of the Board of 
Works obtained for its erection. 
3. VISITORS. 
The total number of visitors to the Gardens in the year 
