ON DEATHS IN THE SOCIETY S GARDENS, 



77 



3. Report on the Deaths which occurred in the Zoolooical 

 Gardens during 1915, together with a List o£ the Blood- 

 Parasites found during the Year. By H. G. Plimmer, 

 F.R.S., F.Z.S,, Professor of Comparative Pathology 

 in the Imperial College of Science and Technology, 

 London, and Pathologist to the Society. 



[Received January 17, 1916 : Read February 8, 1916.] 



Index. Page 



Pathology 77 



Blood-Parasites S'l 



On January 1st, 1915, there were 733 iTiammals, 2073 birds, 

 and 371 reptiles in the Zoological Gardens ; and dui'ing the year 

 280 mammals, 1167 birds, and 237 reptiles were admitted, makin'T^ 

 a total for the year of 1013 mammals, 3240 birds, and 608 reptiles. 



During 1915, 280 mammals, 706 birds, and 179 reptiles have 

 died: that is, a percentage of 27-6 for mammals, 21-7 for birds, 

 and 29-4 for reptiles. 



Out of the total deaths for the year, 1165 in all, 378 occurred 

 in animals which had not been six months in the Gardens : that 

 is, about one-third of the total number. It has been found that 

 after six months' residence in the Gardens the death-rate of the 

 animals falls rapidly ; so it is assumed that by this time the 

 new arrivals have got over their journeys, or have died from any 

 diseases they may have brought with them, or have got quite 

 used to their new environment. Of these 378 animals 90 were 

 mammals, 200 were birds, and 88 were reptiles ; and if these 

 be deducted from their respective totals, the death-rate per- 

 centage will come out as 18'6 for mammals, 15'6 for birds, and 

 14'9 for reptiles. 



The following Tables show in outline the facts which have been 

 ascertained. Table I. summarizes the actual causes of death in the 

 three groups specified. Under Reptiles are included Amphibia. 



Table I. — Analysis of the Causes of Death. 



