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cause of death to be an abscess of some magnitude, in close 
relation to the medulla oblongata and involving the respi- 
ratory centres ; advanced fatty degeneration of the walls of 
the heart was also present. The animal, to all external 
appearances, was in perfect health, and had given no indi- 
cation of disease, unless a disinclination to come out of the 
water, which had been observed for several weeks and 
which had been attributed to his increasing bulk, may be 
so considered. 
It had been hoped that this animal would reach matur- 
ity, and thereby afford the visiting public an attraction 
rarely seen in zoological collections, and its unexpected 
death was one of those disheartening occurrences familiar 
in the experience of all those who keep and care for wild 
animals, and which, under present ignorance of the deep- 
lying causes of defective nutrition, with the resulting dis- 
ease, it seems impossible to prevent even when in many 
cases it may be foreseen. 
The male Indian elephant " Dom Pedro," purchased when 
very small, in November, 1876, died in December, from 
rheumatism of the heart. Aside from the intrinsic value 
of the animal, this loss is not greatly to be regretted, as his 
temper had become so bad that for several years past it had 
been necessary to keep him chained nearly all the time, 
and he was approached at all times by his keepers with 
great risk. 
With the exceptions of a male South American tapir and 
a Burchell's zebra, the remaining deaths were few in num- 
ber and of small importance. 
An arrangement was made during the summer with Mr. 
Arthur Todd, of Germantown, a bee-keeper of long expe- 
rience, by which an exhibition of the habits of the honey- 
bee could be made at the Garden. With this object three 
glass hives were placed in the old photograph stand, so ar- 
ranged as to display to visitors all the actions of the swarm 
while at work within the hive. A number of ordinary hives 
were also placed on the walk leading from the bear pits to 
the lake, and surrounded by a wire fence. At stated periods 
during the week Mr. Todd was in attendance to explain the 
