REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
The Council of the Zoological and Acclimatisation 
Society has much pleasure in submitting its Fourteenth 
Annual Report to the Subscribers. 
The Zoological Gardens have, during the past year, 
proved a great source of attraction, and have been largely 
visited by the public, the grounds having been con- 
siderably improved and beautified. A Fernery and several 
enclosures for birds have been added, new walks and 
flower-beds have been laid out, and some of the cages 
increased in size. 
The Chief Secretary was good enough to place the 
sum of £2,000 on the Estimates for the present year, 
for the use of the Society, being an increase of £500 on 
last year’s grant, on its being represented to him that 
the Society found it impossible, with the strictest eco- 
nomy, to maintain the Gardens, and conduct the other 
operations of the Society, with a less sum. 
The Council was, and still is, anxious to make the 
Society self-supporting, by making a charge at the gates 
for admission to the Gardens, but the question is at 
present undetermined. Were anything like an adequate 
revenue at the disposal of the Society, which in the 
opinion of the Council might be raised in this way, 
much more could be done to increase the Zoological col- 
lection, and thereby render the Grounds more attractive. 
The Council lately heard with deep regret of the 
death of Mr. Edward Wilson, the Founder and first 
