62 
THE LION HOUSE AT THE ZOO. 
[“ Hie habitat leones — Old Map of Central Africa.] 
Just fifty years ago, when the best means of 
keeping wild animals in health and vigour when con- 
fined was still matter for experiment, an interesting 
set of statistics of the length of life of the large 
felidce in the Gardens was submitted to the Society 
by Mr. Rees. It appeared from the records of the 
menagerie that lions, leopards, tigers, and pumas 
only lived, on an average, for two years in the 
Gardens, which gave a rate of mortality of about one 
per month. The value of lions and tigers was then 
about 150 each, and of leopards and pumas ^15. 
The system which led to this great mortality was 
one of confinement in small stuffy cages, in a room 
artificially heated throughout the year, and much was 
hoped from a complete change of treatment which 
had just begun. 
The new principle was one of “ free exposure to 
the outer air, with no artificial heat whatever,” and 
the range of dens now known as the “ Terrace,” on 
