4280 Zoological Society, 



far successful as to make it probable that the anteaters will survive in 

 their present quarters. 



It may be useful to mention here that they retain much of the noc- 

 turnal habit of the species, and are, consequently, more often seen to 

 advantage towards the close of the afternoon than at any other period 

 of the day. 



Lions. 



The latest arrival at the Gardens, which deserves especial mention, 

 consists of a pair of Asiastic lions (Fells goojeratensis, Smee), cap- 

 tured by the Nawab of Janaghar, and obtained from him by Sir 

 Thomas Erskine Perry, formerly Chief Justice of Bombay, who 

 brought them down to Bombay at his own cost, and then most 

 liberally presented them to the Society. 



Sir Henry Leake having, with generous anxiety to assist in the 

 furtherance of Sir Erskine Perry's design, transmitted them to Suez, 

 they were conveyed through Egypt under very favourable arrange- 

 ments with the Directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi- 

 gation Company, whose extreme care the Society has had to acknow- 

 ledge on many previous occasions. 



The Asiatic lion affords many important considerations to the natu- 

 ralist, for which I may refer to Captain Smee's paper upon this animal 

 in the first volume of the Society's ' Transactions.' 



The gradually approaching extinction of this noble animal in 

 Northern India had, therefore, rendered it extremely desirable that an 

 opportunity should be afforded us of studying the differences reported 

 to exist between it and its African congener, when Sir Erskine Perry 

 applied his influence to obtain living specimens for that purpose. The 

 difficulties which have presented themselves in the enterprise which 

 has now been so successfully concluded, render it very improbable 

 that any subsequent attempts will be made in the same direction : and 

 it is not too much to assert that Sir Erskine Perry has thus put the 

 Society in possession of another of those characteristic rarities which 

 are likely to remain unique in our collection. 



These lions are attended bv an aged native soldier, who has had 

 charge of them from their capture, and exerts very extraordinary con- 

 troul over their temper. 



Three lion cubs have been born in the Menagerie in the course of 

 the winter, and will be exhibited as soon as suitable accommodation 

 can be prepared for them. 



