7 
During the past year the improvements in the grounds have been 
steadily carried on. A building for Mammals has been erected con¬ 
taining six divisions. One of the large circular Aviaries has been rebuilt. 
A new Parrot House has been added, and many other minor additions 
and alterations. 
If the Council decide on borrowing money to improve the grounds, 
some good buildings will be erected, among them a new Refreshment 
Room of a superior class, and a Band Stand. 
The last Report stated that the Council was still in correspondence 
with the Hon. Howard Spensley on the subject of the importation of 
Herring Ova. Mr. Spensley has gone to considerable expense and 
much trouble to compass this matter, and in conjunction with Mr. Lalor, 
the Manager of the Brighton Aquarium, has experimented and endeavored 
in every way to retard the vitality of the Ova by cold sufficiently long 
to enable the spawn to be sent out, but up to the present time it is to be 
regretted that the experiments have completely failed. Several suitable 
streams have been stocked with Trout Fry during the past year from Ova 
procured from the Salmon Commissioners of Tasmania. The Society 
is also indebted to Sir Samuel Wilson through his agent, Mr. A Fisken, 
for the gift of nearly 400 Salmon Trout Fry, which were successfully 
placed in two suitable streams, tributaries of the Upper Yarra. 
The Society continues its efforts to acclimatise Pheasants and other 
game birds at Gembrook; they are now spread over a considerable area, 
but they do not increase as quickly as could be wished, the great draw¬ 
back in acclimatising birds throughout Victoria is the want of berry¬ 
bearing bushes. In New Zealand there are such in abundance, and 
game increases much more rapidly in consequence. 
The Council has disposed of the Society’s Ostriches to Mr C. M. 
Officer, M.P. The Council having no suitable land for Ostrich farming 
was unable to retain them with any prospect of success. It is however 
a matter of congratulation that the birds have fallen into such good hands. 
The Messrs. Officer have had charge of them for some years, and have 
already spent a large sum of money in developing the industry, and there 
is but little doubt that Ostrich farming will become an important matter 
