10 
now stands at 124, of which about 80 were sold. And 
as the outlay upon the breeding stock scarcely exceeds 
the amount received on account of re-sales and the 
value of the present stock, it may be stated that, as 
against the oost of feeding and attendance, the gardens 
have had, from first to last, a splendid succession of Lions 
for exhibition, and that the receipts for Cubs sold 
amount to a total sum of upwards of £2,800. 
So far as the records afford information, the cost of 
the food of the Lions was never lower than it is at 
present, being only £15 a year for an aduit. In former 
periods it is stated to have been £28, £45, and even £66. 
It is but justice to say that our success in the breeding 
of Lions has been largely due to the watchful care of 
Patrick Rice, who after upwards of 40 years’ service 
as keeper, is now incapacitated by sickness, and has 
been allowed to continue in the receipt of full pay in 
recognition of the faithful discharge of his duties for so 
Tong a period. 
An event, which had been looked forward to with 
much interest, namely, the birth of a young Bison, 
terminated fatally, both to mother and calf. If pos- 
sible the Council hope to secure a mate for the Bison. 
The threatened extermination of this noble animal on its 
native prairies renders it especially desirable to preserve 
a pure strain of the species in captivity. Failing in this 
the Council may perhaps follow the example set by the 
Zoological Society of London, and so obtain cross breeds 
between the Bison and some of the other Bovines. 
Two of the three Bactrian Camels, which were in the 
Gardens at the commencement of the year, have unfor- 
tunately died ; but to a certain extent their places have 
been filled by a dromedary, which was received in part 
exchange for two young lion cubs. The arrival of the 
dromedary has rendered it possible to hope for a suc- 
cessful experiment in cross breeding with the Bactrian 
Camel. Such hybrids are not unknown, and are said to 
