11 
Journal. He states that young animals are extremely 
liable to become rachitic there, and with the exception 
of a single litter of cubs reared by the mother some 
- years ago, up to last year, the cubs belonging to more 
than 20 litters all died. Last year’s cubs were reared by 
hand, as is described by Dr. Cheadle. We are under 
the impression that the lioness which proved so excep- 
tionally good a mother was one which was sold to the 
Regent's Park Gardens from our stock, when in cub, 
in the year 1872. 
Suggested Improvements —The suggestions which are 
sometimes made with reference to increasing the attrac- 
tions of the Gardens, and thereby, as it is urged, 
adding to our income, may, in general, be classed under 
two heads, the first and simpler of which is the holding 
band performances, at more or less frequent intervals. 
The suggestion is not new, in fact the experiment has 
often been tried in past years, with the result that on 
adding together the receipts from all the performances 
held in a single season, there has been a deficit when 
all expenses have been defrayed. Hence the Council 
has been compelled to discontinue such band _per- 
formances on account of the loss they entailed. 
The second class of suggestions refer to the special 
attractions and entertainments by which it is asserted 
that our receipts would be increased and great profit 
would be gained. The one thing certain is that our 
liabilities would be vastly increased and that our 
present staff would be insufficient—nor could it be 
expected that the troublesome and responsible work in 
connection therewith would be undertaken by Honorary 
Officers whose time was otherwise occupied. 
Those who make such suggestions should remember 
that the Gardens receive a large subvention from the 
Government, and that, in consequence, the Society is 
‘not at liberty to change its rules, asif it were a Limited 
Liability Commercial Company. 
