6o 



The Irish NatitmlisU 



March, 



to the Gorilla, as solitary specimens of the latter in captivity usually 

 become morose, and rapidly lose condition. The two are, on the whole, 

 good friends, but they occasionally indulge in boxing and wrestling bouts, 

 to which the Gorilla often challenges her companion by drumming with 

 her hands on her chest. 



So far as can be ascertained, the four types of Anthropoid — Gorilla, 

 Chimpanzee, Orang-utan, and Gibbon — have never been all exhibited to- 

 gether previously in any Zoological Gardens. The present assemblage in 

 our Ape -house constitutes, therefore, a " record " of which the Society may 

 be proud. 



Early in the year the opportunity of purchasing three rather scarce 

 African Monkeys — ^the Moustache, Red -eared, and White -nosed — was 

 seized ; these specimens are still in good health. A baby Rhesus Monkey 

 was born in the open-air cage, but it only lived for two days. Among the 

 American species the last of the Spider Monkeys has died, but four distinct 

 Capuchins are now in the house. Older specimens of the White -fronted 

 Capuchin which died during the year were found to have suffered from 

 osteo-malacia ; they afforded Prof. J. A. Scott with material for the 

 elucidation of this obscure disease, on which he contributed a paper to the 

 Dublin Biological Club. The Aye -aye and Slow Loris that were in the 

 JMonkey-House a year ago have both, unfortunately, died, but another 

 interesting Lemuroid has been received in a Garnett's Galago, kindly given 

 by Dr. A. Merrin. 



The year just past has been signalized by the death of the two oldest 

 Lions, "Romulus" and "Pluto," both born in the old Lion-House 

 seventeen years ago. Five cubs have been born during the year, all 

 of them males — a remarkable and unusual preponderance* of one sex. 

 The first family of two — born on May 22nd — were from " Conn" and 

 " jNIitze " ; the second family of three — on July iith — were the firstborn 

 of the Dublin-bred Lioness, "Fiona," "Red Hugh" being the father. 

 The pair of "Conn" — " Mitze " cubs born in August, 191 3, were ex- 

 changed for the Chimpanzees mentioned above ; a pair from the " Red 

 Hugh" — "Nigeria" family of December, 191 3, were also disposed of 

 during the year. The stock of Lions now stands at twenty -two — thirteen 

 males and nine females. 



The collection of large carnivores now includes five Tigers, the three 

 adult specimens for many years in Dublin, being supplemented by two 

 healthy cubs, which at the time of their arrival, in July, were about six 

 months old. These young Tigers are a gift from Col. Combes, Principal 

 Medical Officer for the Cochin States, S. India ; the Council feel deeply 

 grateful to Col. Combes for such a valuable gift. 



The stock of Bears has been depleted by the death of both the American 

 Black specimens which were in the Gardens a year ago. An interesting 

 animal has, however, come to us in one of the White -eared race of the 

 Brown Bear {Urstts arctos lenconyx) from Chinese Turkestan, a generous 

 gift from Capt. Bury. One of the most serious losses in the Society's 

 stock is due to the unfortunate death of both the Sea Lions ; the animals 

 were apparently in excellent health until a few days before they succumbed 

 to acute gastric trouble. The larger specimen may have sustained 



