23 
On the 20th of May, 1872 (being the popular holiday of 
Whit-Monday) the number of entrances recorded at the 
gates was 44,608. This is the greatest number of 
visitors ever admitted to the Society’s Gardens in any one 
day since they were opened to the public. The nearest 
approach to this number was on 21st of May, 1866, when 
the number of entrances was 36,506. 
4, MENAGERIE. 
The number of animals of the first three classes of 
Vertebrates in the Society’s Gardens at the close of the 
year 1872 was 2010, showing a slight but unimportant 
decrease in comparison with the corresponding period of 
1871, as will appear from the following Table :— 
December 31. 
1871. 1872. 
Comparison. 
Decr. 17 
Quadrupeds....,......+++. 573 
‘Birds: *Acgssavessccspessene 1208. | Decr. 19 
LES EFA teers 5 229 Decr. 26 
2010 
The most noticeable occurrence that took place in the 
Menagerie in 1872, was the birth and successful rearing of 
a young Hippopotamus, which has now attained the age 
of nearly six months. The two former young ones of the 
same mother, born in 1871, were both lost soon after their 
births ; and the same result having also occurred in every 
instance of this animal having bred on the continent 
except on one single occasion, it was considered hardly 
probable that a favourable issue would take place, although 
every precaution was adopted to ensure it. An additional 
feature of great interest on the present occasion is the fact 
of the young Hippopotamus having been reared by its 
mother—the only young one reared at Amsterdam having 
been removed from its parent and brought up by hand. 
In order to commemorate this interesting event, and in 
acknowledgment of the great skill and care shown by 
Mr. Bartlett upon this occasion, and of the services he has 
rendered generally to the Society, the Council determined 
to present him with the Silver Medal of the Society. The 
