THE 
Offices: Zoological Gardens, Melbourne. 
REPOKT OF THE COUNCIL 
FOR 1897. 
HE Council of the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society 
has the honour to submit its Thirty-fourth Annual Report 
to the Subscribers. 
The Council regrets that it is unable to report more favourably of 
the financial position of the Society, although the total income is 
slightly in excess of that of 1896—the totals being /4809 and 
^4898, respectively; but the list of members is very much below 
what it should be, considering how very interesting the Gardens 
are. On the continent of Europe the members of the 
different Zoological Gardens are numbered, in some instances, by 
thousands; but here, in spite of every effort to increase the 
subscription list, the numbers still remain very small indeed. 
This is very disappointing; if the citizens took more interest in 
the Gardens, they would increase in usefulness and attractiveness. 
I he Gardens have suffered somewhat by the dry season, and from 
the great heat experienced in December and January, but are in 
excellent order throughout, and there is still a fair show of flowers. 
The Zoological collection is in good condition, and healthy, but 
requires additions, and the Director, Mr. Le Souef, has proceeded 
to Singapore to make purchases of animals and birds, that place 
being a great centre of wild animal life. Some interesting additions 
have lately been received from India, including several handsome 
Cranes, and a huge Python, nearly twenty feet in length. 
1 he 1 ree Kangaroos have continued to do well, and young ones 
are now born and reared every year. The Talegallas, or Scrub 
I urkeys, made a mound last season, and laid a number of eggs in 
it, but none were hatched ; this season they have been more 
fortunate, several young ones having been hatched during the latter 
part of December. 
