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when the Zoological Collection is made more attractive, the number 
of visitors will increase on week clays. 
The Gardens during the past year have always been kept in 
excellent order, and have been much admired by visitors from 
England and the Continent. 
The improvements during last year have gone on steadily with 
the Society’s staff, but no contracts have been entered into. At 
present there is ample room for the collection, and it is not 
anticipated that new buildings will be required for some time to 
come, although some of the smaller buildings may have to be 
extended. 
The Government Grant was again reduced last year, to ^3000, 
being a further reduction of ^500, and the want of this sum, as above 
mentioned, has much embarrassed the Management. It is to be 
hoped that the vote will not be further curtailed, as any further 
reduction would involve the Society in very grave difficulties. 
The collection of Snakes and Reptiles is now very fine. There are 
more specimens at present on view than the Society has ever had 
before at one time, including not only a large number of venomous 
snakes, but also some fine examples of the Indian Pythons. 
The collection of Lions is also very interesting, including as it does 
two magnificent males and five other specimens. Much has been 
said and written within the last few months about the dogs caged 
at times with the lions, and the Society have been accused of cruelty 
in permitting this; but there is really no cruelty in the matter, on 
the contrary, the lions and dogs become much attached to each 
other. The dogs are placed with the lions’ cubs and they grow up 
together. A lion in captivity is inclined to be lazy and inactive, but 
the dogs play with them and cause them to move and jump about, 
and so conduce to their health and development. When the lions 
grow up they still retain an attachment for their canine friends, 
and express rage and resentment if they are taken from them and 
pleasure when they return. The dogs seem quite happy with their 
great companions, and when taken out for a time seem glad to get 
back. If they were unhappy in their strange companionship the 
practice would be at once discontinued, as the Directors’ object is 
never to permit cruelty of any kind, but to treat every animal in the 
Gardens with all the kindness possible, compatible with loss of 
freedom. 
The following animals have been born in the Gardens during the 
past year:— 
3 Brown Bear Cubs , 3 Coypu or Beaver Rats 
2 Aoudads or Wild Barbary 1 Dwarf Zebu 
Sheep I 2 Zebus 
Several Persian Cat Kittens | 1 Guanaco 
The deaths in the collection in the last year include:—The fine 
Mandrill Baboon, which had lived in the Gardens for over ten years. 
This fine animal is a great loss to the Society, as he was not only 
