FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
The Council of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation 
Society of Victoria begs to submit its fifty-seventh annual 
report to the subscribers and the public, and has pleasure 
in stating that the receipts from the entrance gates for the 
year were .£5,137/17/6, an increase of £983/4/9, and from other 
sources, exclusive of the Government grant, £3,059/11/11. 
The number of visitors on Sundays was approximately 
242,562, and on week days, 143,097, making a total of 385,659, 
being 100.408 more than last year. These figures do not 
include children from Charitable Institutions, State and 
Primary Schools, and soldiers and sailors in uniform, who 
are admitted free of charge. 37,364 children rode on the 
elephant during the year. 
The young hippopotamus, that was reared in the Gardens, 
and is now three years old, has been sold and delivered to 
the Zoological Gardens in Adelaide. 
The flower gardens have been kept up to their usual 
standard, as they form a considerable attraction to visitors, 
and add much to the interest and beauty of the Gardens. 
In consequence of the increased cost of food for the animals 
and the general upkeep of the Gardens, without a corre¬ 
sponding increase of income, the Council has been unable to 
proceed with the construction of several additions considered 
necessary, especially a structure for bears and a new refresh¬ 
ment-room for visitors. 
A new cage for owls is in course of construction, and 
several minor improvements are being carried out. 
The railway line, which passes close to the Gardens, has 
now been electrified, and trains run every quarter of an hour, 
giving visitors a much easier and a quicker means of reaching 
the Gardens than the tramway. 
Mollie, the orang-utan, still continues to thrive, 
although she has been in the Gardens for twenty years, and 
is now twenty-two years of age; she has probably been longer 
in captivity than any other orang-utan. 
During the year the Council purchased three axis and 
one hog deer, one yak, one civet cat, six flamingoes, six 
Arabian sheep, three Asiatic cranes, six ostriches, and many 
smaller specimens, as well as native animals and birds. 
Mrs. Black, of Terang, kindly presented the Society with 
18 ostriches during the year. 
The following births have taken place during the year 1 :— 
Three tigers, two lions, one leopard, six prairie dogs. 
In conclusion, the Council desires to thank those who have 
so kindly presented native animals and birds to the Society, 
and to express its appreciation of the services of the Director 
and Staff. 
