THE 
ooJoflical anil ^rditijatbation o( ^idoijia* 
Offices: Zoological Gardens, Mel 
BOURNE, 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 
FOR 1896, 
As Read and Adopted at the Annual Meeting, held at 
41 Selborne Chambers, Monday, February 15TH, 1897. 
HE Council of the Zoological and Acclimatisation 
bociety of Victoria has the honour to submit its 
Thirty-third Annual Report to the members of the 
bociety. 
The Council deeply regrets the loss the Society has sustained by 
the death of Mr. Robert Simson ; that gentleman filled the position 
ot a member ol the Council for many years, and lie was always 
most regular m his attention to the duties of the office. 
As was stated in the last Annual Report, the Director (Mr. Le 
Souef) visited the Cape of Good Hope early last year, and he was 
absent about four months ; but he was much hindered in his mission 
in consequence of the unfortunate Jameson raid having taken place 
shortly before his arrival, and the generally unsettled state of the 
country. 1 he Hon. Cecil Rhodes was also prevented from helping 
Mr. Le Souef in the way it was anticipated he would have done—he 
having left for London a few days before the Director’s arrival at 
Cape I own ; nevertheless, some interesting and valuable animals 
^ aine< ^ anc ^ forwarded to the Gardens, the principal among 
which was a beautiful Zebra mare, from Mr. Rhodes’ Park, near 
Cape Town ; also, a fine pair of Hunting Cheetahs, from the 
neigh bom hood of Beaufort West, in the Karroo; and curious sheep 
from the same district, and from Damaraland, in German territory. 
Other stock has been obtained since Mr. Le Souefs return, but on 
account of the virulent outbreak of rinderpest, and the 
