1 88 THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS OF EUROPE 



In 1894 the white-tailed gnu bred for the first time, 

 and a polar bear died after living in the Gardens for 

 about twenty-three years. 



In 1895 the new scheme for the drainage of the 

 Society's grounds, planned in 1894, was brought to a 

 satisfactory conclusion. The first example of the 

 Southern form of girafPe was exhibited. Other impor- 

 tant additions were a pair of brindled gnus and a pair 

 of sable antelopes. Seth Sutton, after nearly forty 

 years' service as keeper, retired on a pension. 



In 1896 'Jung Pershad,' the Indian elephant de- 

 posited by the Prince of Wales in 1876, died. 



In 1897 the new ostrich and crane houses were com- 

 pleted at a total cost of £3,383 ; the new tortoise 

 house adjoining the reptile house was also finished at 

 a cost of £464. A giraffe, sent as a present to Queen 

 Victoria by the Chief Bathoen of Bechuanaland, died 

 almost as soon as it had been received at the 

 Gardens. 



In 1899 the new zebra house was finished at a cost 

 of about £1,100. The Emperor Menelik of Abyssinia 

 presented Queen Victoria with a pair of Grevy's zebras, • 

 which were deposited in this house. Besides these 

 fine animals, the series of equides in the Gardens then 

 comprised one African wikl ass, one Somah Avikl ass, 

 two onagers, one kiang, six Burchelfs zebras, two 

 mountain zebras. 



In 1900 the brindled gnu bred, the first instance 

 recorded in the Gardens. The Society's income 

 amounted to £28,772, the innnber of Fellows was 

 3,250, and the admissions to the Gardens were 

 697,178. 



