12 
EXCURSION TO TENBY. 
We were also specially indebted to Mr. Bolton for liis 
efficient aid in collecting and preserving specimens, and 
exhibiting microscopic objects in the living state. 
We had the pleasure of the company on several occasions 
of Mr. F. Walker, of Tenby, an enthusiastic naturalist, who 
has for many years closely studied the fauna and flora of that 
district, and who afforded us valuable information and 
assistance. 
In conclusion, it has to be added that for the organisation 
and effective carrying out of this delightful and instructive 
excursion we were entirely indebted to our esteemed friend 
Mr. Morley, to whom our best thanks are due. 
LIONS BLED IN CONFINEMENT 
It will probably astonish many to learn that in the 
gardens of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, Phoenix 
Park, Dublin, within the last thirty years, no less than 131 
lion cubs have been born. The breeding stock was started 
by a pair of African lions imported from Natal in 1855. The 
first litter was born in 1857, and between that date and 1885, 
of the 131 produced, twenty-one only were lost, and they 
were either born dead or died shortly after birth ; and of the 
110 reared, eiglity-six were sold, so that zoological gardens, 
not only in Europe, but also in America and even Africa, 
have been supplied with lions born at Dublin. 
The first lion, Natal, lived in the gardens for eight years ; 
his progeny by three different lionesses amounted to forty- 
two. The second lion, Old Charley, a son of the above, was 
the father of forty-six cubs ; he died at the age of ten years. 
His son, Young Charley, died when twelve years old, having 
had twenty-seven cubs, one of whom, Paddy, is at present in 
the gardens, and is now rising seven years old. Seven 
lionesses were bred from in the gardens, the most remarkable 
being Old Girl, the offspring of the first pair. She was 
mated when two and a half years old, and was the mother 
of fifty-five cubs in eleven years, forty-one of which were 
disposed of, realising no less a sum than £1,400 for the 
society. Old Girl died at the age of sixteen years, having 
become very feeble and diseased. The number of cubs in 
each litter varied from one to eight, but the general number 
was four. The period of gestation is fifteen weeks. 
Of the 131 cubs produced, the sex of one born dead was 
not recorded; the remaining 130 were seventy-four males 
