318 MR. H. G. PLIMMER ON DEATHS 



" I took tlie following measuremeBts immediately after death : — • 

 Extreme length, tip of nose to tip of tail ( = vertebrse), 4ft. 1| ins. 

 Length of face, 11-1- ins. 



,, ear, 5| ins. 



., tail (to end of vertebrae), 11 ins. 



,, fore leg (elbow to end of toe), 22g ins. 



,, hind leg (hock to end of toe), 15^ ins." 



PAPERS. 



15. Report on the Deaths which occurred in the Zoological 

 Gardens during 1910. By H. G. Plimmer, F.R.S., 

 F.Z.S., Pres.R.M.S., Pathologist to the Society. 



[Received February 6, 1911 : Read February 21, 1911.] 



On January 1, 1910, the number of animals in the Zoological 

 Gardens was 3186, and during the year 2354 animals were 

 admitted, making a total of 5540 for the year. 



The number of deaths during the year has been 1554, that is 

 a death-rate of 28 per cent. ; but if from the above total we 

 deduct 643 animals which did not live for six months after their 

 arrival in the Gardens — that is, roughly, the time at which we 

 find they have either got over their journeys, or died from any 

 disease they brought with them, or have got entirely used to their 

 new environment — the percentage of deaths is reduced to 16'4, 

 which is less than that of the last two years. 



The following figures will show the general relations of the last 

 three years : — 



1908. 1909. 1910. 



Total number of animals 5608 5303 5540 



Total deaths 1737 1492 1554 



Percentage of deaths 31 28 28 



Percentage of deaths, excluding 

 those which occurred in ani- 

 mals which had oiot been six 

 months in the Gardens 17 17-8 16-4 



If we consider the weather conditions of 1910, and compare 

 these figures (bearing in mind the relative number of animals), 

 it will be seen that the percentage of deaths of 1910 is more satis- 

 factory than that of the two preceding years. 



The total deaths are divided as follows : Mammals 362, Birds 

 845, Reptiles 347. 



The following tables show the facts ascertained in outline. 

 Table I. sets forth the actual causes of death in each of the three 

 groups specified. Under Reptiles are included Batrachians and 

 Fishes. 



