gardens are the source of considerable attraction and interest to 
large numbers of persons who visit the Royal Park. 
The Grovernment very liberally placed the sum of £1000 on 
the estimates for the present financial year for the use of the 
Society — which sum was voted by the Legislature ; and the 
Council take this opportunity of thanking the Grovernment and 
the Parliament for thus enabling them to carry on their useful 
labours, and trust that the result will prove commensurate with 
the money expended. 
The Council are gratified at being able to state that a consi- 
derable amount of success has attended the operations of the 
Society during the past year. A number of pheasants of the 
silver {j>lmsianus, nyctliemerus) and common {phasianus colcliicus) 
variety, have been reared, and will shortly be liberated in 
suitable places. Ducks and other birds have also increased at 
the Royal Park. Upwards of one hundred and fifty Gruinea-fowl 
have been placed in various secluded spots, in forests far 
removed from settlement, where it is confidently hoped they 
will increase, and in a few years afford both food and sport. 
The Council regret that they are in a measure obliged to carry 
on their operations in secrecy, on account of the unscrupulous 
and unsportsmanlike conduct of certain persons, who do not 
hesitate to shoot pheasants, and other valuable game, just 
liberated, without any regard to the great injury they are 
thus inflicting on the cause of acclimatisation. 
It is only lately that information was received, that a hen 
pheasant had been shot up the country at the time she had a 
brood of chicks too young and helpless to live without their 
mother : and this is by no means an isolated case. It is the 
same with hares, which are shot, hunted, and coursed, at all 
times and seasons, in defiance of the Game Act, to such an 
extent, that had the hare not have been more prolific in this 
climate than in England, it would long since have been exter- 
minated. The Council have lately been considering a plan 
