108 Royal Zoological Society of Ireland 



tion" The Council feel the more pleasure in making the 

 announcement, as flower beds and many rare and 

 valuable shrubs have been added to the attractions of the 

 Gardens. Encouraged by this experience, the Council 

 have still further extended the system of cheap admis- 

 sions ; and, in addition to Sundays after two o'clock, and 

 all the principal holidays, the gardens are now open on 

 all week days from five o'clock in the afternoon to dusk, 

 during the summer months, at the low rate of one penny. 

 They have no doubt that the result will be an extension 

 of advantage to the public and to the Gardens. The 

 public will enjoy a free access, and the funds of the 

 Gardens will be increased, for by the accounts which are 

 laid before you, it will be seen that while the sum received 

 within the year at 6d. admission, amounted to £354 14s. 6d., 

 the penny admission brought to our funds the sum of 

 £542 10s. 7d. A statement of the accounts presented by the 

 treasurer will be laid before you. The income from all 

 sources during the past year has been £1,886 19s. lfd., that 

 of the preceding year, £1 ,598 Is. 8d., showing an increase on 

 the year ending April 30th, 1859, of £288 17s. 5fd. The 

 expenditure during the past year was £1,955 2s. 3id., 

 showing an expenditure over income of £68 3s. lfd. The 

 Council regret that, as appears by the above account, the 

 Society is in debt at the end of this year, to the amount 

 of £68 3s. lfd. They have, however, within the past year 

 purchased animals to the amount of £376 lis. 3jd., and 

 they have constructed, at a considerable cost, new cages 

 and enclosures. They hope the exertions they have made, 

 and the responsibilities they have incurred in these 

 respects, will obtain a corresponding exertion from the 

 members and from the public for the support of the 

 Gardens. Among the purchases within the past year 

 have been a splendid Bengal tiger, at a cost of £150; a 

 nyl-ghau, for £42 ; a kangaroo, £20 ; and at minor prices 

 African sheep and many other smaller animals. The 

 Polar or white bear of the Arctic regions, purchased in 

 the preceding year, continues to be an object of great 

 attraction. Four lion cubs have been bred in the Gardens 

 within the past year, making in all five within two years. 

 Of these, two have been sold for £80, and two, now much 

 grown, are in the Gardens. Other animals have been 

 added by purchase, and 79, as per list subjoined, have 

 been presented to the Gardens. The marine and fresh 

 water aquaria are in perfect order, and continue to 



