13 



During the last year the Council have renewed 

 their application for a grant of the ground on the 

 opposite side of the lake. They feel more convinced 

 than ever that their property will continue insecure, 

 and their valuable collection of water-fowl especially 

 suffer loss, as long as their grounds are confined to 

 one-half of the lake only ; and they still hope that 

 their representations on this subject may eventually 

 be successful. 



The financial condition of the Society is less unsa- 

 tisfactory. The debt which pressed on it for several 

 years has been much reduced in amount ; and the 

 Council yet hope, that as the useful tendencies and 

 objects of the Society become more generally recog- 

 nised, the number of its members will be so much 

 augmented, as to enable the Society materially to 

 extend its operations, and prevent the recurrence of 

 such anxiety about its pecuniary engagements as has 

 been occasionally experienced during the last few 

 years. 



Several subjects have been, and still are, under the 

 consideration of the Council — as the improved methods 

 of fish culture ; a proper supply of water to the differ- 

 ent buildings ; and the erection of new and improved 

 buildings, which, for some of the larger birds and 

 animals, are greatly needed; but the Council have 

 been reluctant to undertake any works which were not 

 absolutely necessary, until the Society was completely 

 free from debt. 



In the month of October, last year, their late 

 Superintendent, Mr. James Lowe, who had for many 



