HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
93 
sists of Gwalior stone with beautiful jali panel- 
ling. The best thanks of the Committee are due 
to Mr. Berridge for this handsome memento of 
his association with the Garden. 
A figure of Atlas made of Mirzapur stone 
which formerly surmounted the Standard Assir- 
ance Company's office in Dalhousie Square was 
set up in the south-east corner of' the new exten- 
sion, the entire cost being generously met by Mr. 
W. K. Dods. 
The birth of a young male hippopotamus in 
the Garden on the 5th August, 1917, aroused con- 
siderable interest. The male parent had been 
acquired in 1907 from Carl Htgenbeck of Ham- 
burg, as a ten months old calf, and the mother 
from the same source in 1911, when about three 
years old. Unfortuntely the calf only survived 
for eight days when, for reasons which are some- 
what obsccre, it was killed by its mother. 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
Among 'the improvements to the existing 
bui'dings, Rangeegunge tiles were substituted for 
the ornamental fish-tiled roofing of the Reptile 
House, and a patent stone border was inserted 
at the base of certam cages in the Dumraon 
House, where the lower portions of the iron grat- 
ings and doors had worn away. 
ANNUAL REPAIRS. 
Annual repairs to the buildings of the Gar- 
den were done departmentally as usual. The 
quinquennial repairs to the Hermitage were satis- 
factorily carried out. 
APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS. 
Mr. W. Dods was appointed a member of the 
Committee on the 22nd October, 1917. On the 
5th March, 1918, Mr. Berridge resigned his ap- 
pointment as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer 
on leaving Calcutta. The Committee, in accept- 
ing his resignation, recorded the following re- 
solution : "The Committee records its apprecia- 
tion of the services of Mr. Berridge since 1915 
and its regret at his retirement.'' 
The Committee records its deep regret at the 
death of Lieut. Col. R. Bird, M.V.O., CLE., 
I. M.S., for many years a member of the Com- 
mittee, and offers its sincere Condolences to Mrs. 
Bird in her bereavement. 
There was no change in the superior staff 
during the year. 
VISITORS. 
. There was a falling-off in the attendance of 
paying visitors during the year, the turnstile 
records indicating a total of 583,343 visiters, a 
decrease of 88,152 as compared with the figures 
for 1916-17, attributable to reduced train ser- 
vices and absence of facilities generally for travel. 
A large number of children under four years of 
age and school children in charge of their teachers 
were admitted free. On the day of the Eancy 
Pair when no individual charge is levied, it is es- 
timated 'that about 11,600 people entered the 
Garden. In addition 53,480 persons visited the 
Garden on free days. Special arrangements were 
made for the admission without payment of sol- 
diers on leave and convalescents. 
FINANCE. 
In spite of the decrease in gate receipts the 
financia condition of the Garden during the year 
under review continued to be satisfactory. This 
is due to the strict economy which was observed 
in all departments. Expenditure was limited to 
necessary upkeep, and the policy of postponing 
new works was continued. 
GARDEN. 
The Garden was well maintained, and there 
was a particularly good show of flowering an- 
nuals in the cold weather. For a number of ex- 
hibits sent to the Ajjrri-Horricultural Society's 
Exhibition the Head Gardener was awarded a 
money prize. 
The Committee desire to express their thanks 
to the Corporation of Calcutta for their continued 
generosity in remitting the consoildated rates in 
respect of the Gardens. 
The thanks of the Committee are also due to 
those lades and gentlemen who have added to 
the Zoological collection by donations. Thanks 
are also due to those who kindly offered to pre- 
sent animals to the Garden, but whose offers 
coud not be accepted, either because the particu- 
lar species of animals was already sufficiently 
well represented, or owing to want of accommo- 
dation. 
The Committee also desire to express their 
thanks to the railways and steamer companies for 
the conveyance of animals belonging to the Gar- 
dens free of charge. 
The Superintendent's Report states that 
among the births in the Garden during the year 
may be netced — a hippopotamus, 2 cat-bears, a 
gayal and a nilgai. One of the cassowaries laid 
eggs but did not hatch them as did some Chakar 
partridges and Nicobar Imperial pigeons. 
DEATHS. 
In addition to the baby hippopotamus who 
was killed by his mother the principal losses dur- 
