HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
III. The larger birds are killed by flying 
violently against the glass or other portions of 
the lighthouse structure; small birds are also some- 
times killed in this way, but sometimes also they 
become confused, and fly about and against the 
lantern until they fall from exhaustion. A num- 
ber of correspondents speak of finding birds with 
necks broken and breast bones crushed, showing 
that they had struck some solid object with great 
violence. It is quite evident that the placing of 
perches on most of the lighthouses of this coast 
would be time and money wasted. Not many 
birds are killed at most of them and the birds 
killed are not perching birds for the most part. 
IV. The greatest danger to the birds is 
evidently on dark overcast nights. The seasons 
of greatest danger are evidently during the spring 
migration and the autumnal migration, with less 
danger during th ewinter season and least of all 
in summer. There is considerable difference of 
opinion as to the time of greatest mortality but 
on the whole the statement above seems to be 
in accord with the majority of the correspondents. 
V. In the opinion of the lighthouse keepers 
the destruction of birds at the lighthouse stations 
is not increasing. Seventy-five per cent, of those 
answering the question think the number of birds 
killed is growing less; the others think there is no 
noticeable change. 
San Francisco, California, 
November 2, 1917. 
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
The Annual General Meeting of the Zoologi- 
cal Society was held on April 29, under the presi- 
dency of His Grace the Duke of Bedford, K.G. 
All things considered it was fairly well attended. 
The report of the council for the year ending Dec. 
31, 1917, was read, and is of more than usual 
interest, as showing the adverse conditions under 
which the affairs of the society have had to be 
administered during the stress of war. It details 
the regrettable losses incurred by death of mem- 
bers of the staff, diminution in the number of visi- 
tors to the Gardens, increased cost of mainten- 
ance of the animals, and the necessitated reduc- 
tion of expenditure in various directions. The 
society's normal staff consists of about 150 men, 
including those unfitted for active service. Of 
these, ninety-two volunteered or have been called 
up; thirteen have been discharged from the Army, 
and fourteen were rejected on medical grounds. 
Nine unfortunately have been killed, including the 
librarian, Mr. Henry Peavot, whose death has 
been a great loss to the society. The total num- 
ber of visitors to the Gardens during the year 1917 
was 898,758, a decrease of 185,491 on the num- 
ber for 1916. This decrease is attributed chiefly 
to the absence of facilities for railway excursions, 
especially during the summer months. The an- 
nouncement was made that officers and men in 
uniform are now admitted to the Gardens at half 
price on week-days, and on Saturdays as well as 
Mondays the price of admission is 6d. 
With regard to provisions for the animals, 
the council decided early in the war that no food 
required for human consumption should be used 
for the animals, and that none should be kept un- 
less it were possible to give them satisfactory 
rations. In the case of those accustomed to re- 
ceived food from visitors, their rations have been 
increased, and it is gratifying to know that al- 
though they have doubtless experienced a duller 
time, their health has not suffered. 
With respect to finances, the report shows 
that while there has been a loss of income owing 
to reduction in gate money, increased taxation, 
greater cost of provisions and materials, and the 
additiosal cost of war bonuses to the men and 
reserved pay to those on active service, there has 
been nevertheless a net decrease in expenditure. 
The council, acting on the advice of the finance 
committee, having decided to reduce the estimate 
of egpenditure for the current year by at least 
^,5,000, are able to announce as the result of their 
policy that the general financial position and the 
reserves of the society are entirely satisfactory. 
We note with pleasure that the council has made 
a grant of £5 5s. to the Selous Memorial Fund 
and ^10 10s. to the National Trust towards the 
preservation of Wicken Fen. 
At the last scientific meeting of the Zoological 
Society, held on April 23rd, the secretary (Dr. P. 
Chalmers Mitchell, F.R.S.) called attention to' an 
advertisement that had recently appeared in the 
London Press, announcing Fur Sales by Public 
Auction about to take place in the United States. 
The sales in question were only examples of what 
took place annually in London and other impor- 
tant commercial centres. The numbers advertised 
were smaller than usual, no doubt on account of 
the War, but they included very large quantities 
of animals the extinction of which could not be 
far distant, unless measures were carried out to 
protect them. In the opinion of' the speaker, 
which was confirmed by the meeting, there was 
urgent need for drasfic measures to protect mam- 
mals. The protection of birds appealed to> popu- 
lar sentiment, and was zealously advocated by 
many influential organisations. The dangers that 
threatened mammals were even greater, and, on 
account of their higher intelligence and more 
sensitive nervous organisation, the cruelty in- 
volved in the methods of hunting, trapping, and 
killing them was incomparably greater. 
