a 
£1,273 12s. 9d., while, during the past year, they 
amounted to £1,291 15s.4d., or an increase of £18 2s. 7d. 
Under the heading Entrance Fees and Subscriptions, 
inclusive of sums carried to the special fund, there has 
been a fall from £466 to £438, or £28. The Govern- 
ment grant for the fourth quarter was not received 
within the year, but has since been paid. The Balance 
Sheet testifies to freedom from debt as the result of 
the strict care and economy which has been practised 
during the year. 
Your Council would impress upon the Members of the 
Society generally the importance of obtaining an acces- 
sion to the ranks of its supporters. 
As on previous occasions, the Council acknowledge 
the advice with reference to improvements which has 
been freely offered to them by Visiters and Members, 
Independently many schemes have suggested them- 
selves, and the sole circumstance which has deferred 
the putting into operation some of these varied projects, 
has been that the funds required for the purpose were 
not available. A renovation of the old monkey house, 
and its junction with the new one, will probably be the 
first costly work to be undertaken. 
Although these Reports have often during the past 
thirty years been the medium of communicating favour- 
able accounts as to the success which hag attended the 
breeding of Lions, it is satisfactory to be able to state 
that the year 1885 has been one of unequalled success 
in this respect, as twelve Lion Cubs were born and 
successfully reared, and six of them were disposed of 
for £100 in cash, and £105 worth of other animals. 
Much progress has been made in the compilation of 
a complete history of this particular Irish industry—the 
breeding of Lions; and it is expected that the results will 
be shortly published elsewhere, being too voluminous 
for introduction here. It will be of interest, however, 
to state that the total number of Cubs born since 1855 
