50 
The hish Naturalist 
March, 
but during the summer a welcome and unexpected enquiry for cubs was 
followed by the sale of most of the youngsters available, for which a good 
price was received. During 191 5 three litters were born, comprising 
four males and five females, all of which were alive on December 31st, 
when our total Lion stock amounted to twenty -three animals, twelve 
males and eleven females. 
The large felines, besides the Lions, in the Roberts House are much 
the same as a year ago, only one Leopard having been lost by death. 
Dr. Combe's two young Tigers are growing into large and handsome speci- 
mens, and show remarkable docility. In the outdoor dens the adult 
male Puma died, but a cub of the same sex was borne in June. The 
Indian Wild Dog was one of the most interesting specimens lost during 
the year ; three curiously marked domestic Dogs from Egypt have been 
placed on deposit in the Gardens by Butler Pasha. 
The Ungulates are the only other group of mammals among which 
noteworthy changes have to be recorded. We have lost by death some 
interesting and familiar specimens, including the Grant's Zebra, the 
Wapiti Stag, the Blesbok, and the Bactrian Camel — all old inhabitants of 
the Gardens — as wall as a male Chamois which had lived for some years 
on Lambay, and was placed on deposit by the Hon. Cecil Baring, but did 
not long survive in the restricted surroundings of his paddock. On the 
other hand, the collection of Antelopes has been greatly enriched through 
the generosity of the Duke of Bedford, who sent early in the year, a male 
Brindled Gnu and a pair of Elands. The Eland cow died after giving 
birth to a calf, which also, unfortunately, succumbed. On hearing of 
this, the Duke was kind enough to forward a second Eland cow, so that a 
pair of these noble Antelopes are now on view to our visitors. 
Our collection of Birds suffered during the November frosts, when a 
Flamingo and the two Black -necked Swans hurt themselves on the ice and 
died as a result of the injuries. Another loss is the large Domestic Goose, 
believed to have attained the age of 44 years. The Reptiles have under- 
gone no change, but the stock of Axolotls and of Fish is smaller than last 
year. The Fish Hatchery was supplied with 10,000 Brown Trout ova by 
the Irish Fisheries Office, and most of these developed into healthy young 
fish, which were handed over to the Riparian Owners of the Liffey. 
Wednesday afternoons at the Gardens were very attractive throughout 
the summer and autumn, thanks to the excellent musical programme given 
each week by the Band of the South Irish Horse. The Council's hearty 
thanks are due to Col. Lord Decies and the officers of the regiment for 
allowing the Band to attend free of charge as well as to the Bandmaster 
and Bandsmen, and to the Dublin United Tramways Company for facili- 
- fating the transport of the musicians and their instruments to and from 
Phoenix Park. On the days of these performances it was pleasant to see 
a large number of convalescent wounded soldiers who had the opportunity 
of enjoying themselves in the Gardens through the generosity of various 
friends. 
The sets of pictures sent in to the yearly photographic competition 
in November were again of a high degree of merit. The Silver Medal 
in the Senior Class was won by Mr, Arthur MacCallum, of Rathmines, 
