1889.] Address. Ill 



Sir J. D. Hooter bearing, in his own handwriting, the names he has 

 given to them in his " Flora of British India." The Library has also re- 

 ceived an important acquisition in the correspondence of Wallich, con- 

 tained in 33 volumes, extending from 1794 to 1849, which has been 

 transferred from the Kew Library. 



Zoological Garden. — Our Society, as you may recollect, took an active 

 part in the establishment of the Zoological Garden, at Alipore, and it is 

 satisfactory to learn that it is flourishing and continues to attract large 

 numbers of visitors, forming a pleasant place of resort for the Calcutta 

 public, European and native. The past year appears to have been a 

 satisfactory one in every way. The number of visitors to the Garden 

 who paid entrance fees in 1887-88, was 108,041, exclusive of students 

 and children under 8 years of age. 



The most important additions to the menagerie during the same 

 period were : — By purchase ; two Bactrian camels and three Russian 

 bears, also an Indian and a Javan rhinoceros purchased from the sale of 

 the menagerie of H. M. the late king of Oucle. By the acquisition of 

 these valuable and rare animals, the Committee were able to exhibit all 

 the species of Asiatic Rhinoceros side by side. I may also mention that 

 a young rhinoceros has lately been born in the gardens ; a fact that is 

 interesting as being very rare, and also because the young one is a 

 hybrid between B. Sumatrensis and R Lasiotis. 131 presentations, in- 

 cluding 48 mammals, 79 birds and 4 reptiles, were made during the 

 year. 



Several improvements have been made and additional accommoda- 

 tion for animals provided, including a snake pit. Additional kiosks 

 for the deer have been erected, and these animals show a greatly im- 

 proved appearance as the result of their being protected from sun 

 and rain. Thi3 is specially conspicuous in the Sambhar, which, as a 

 rule, had always suffered in health and been very subject to skin 

 diseases during the rains ; while, during the past season, they have 

 remained throughout in excellent condition. That the animals appre- 

 ciated their improved accommodation was sufficiently clear from the fact 

 that during the wet weather they were hardly ever to be seen lying 

 down anywhere save on the well-raised masonry floor of their shed. 

 Even though we are within the tropics, proper shelter for animals 

 is necessary, and a new house for tropical birds, in which a proper 

 temperature can be maintained during the cold nights of the winter 

 months, is about to be built. A special secluded den, communi- 

 cating with the back compartments of the portion of the Carnivora 

 House occupied by the lions, has been constructed. It is only where 

 such accommodation is present that successful breeding of lions in confine- 



