II 
subscription of £i is. per annnum, which entitles the member and 
his family to free admission on every day in the year, is small 
compared with that of the London Zoological Gardens; and if the 
members of this Society were counted by hundreds or thousands, 
as they are in most of the Continental Gardens, the result would 
soon be seen in the enlargement of the collection and the increased 
beauty and attractions of the Gardens. There are still many 
improvements and additions in contemplation, and they will 
be carried out as funds are available. The present income of 
the Society is insufficient, and a larger revenue is most urgently 
needed, the greatest economy having to be exercised in maintaining 
the Gardens even as at present. 
The following births have taken place during the past year:— 
One Nylghaie, one Zebu calf, one Water Buffalo calf, one Black 
Buck, one Indian Sheep, one Aoudad or Wild Barbary Sheep, one 
Brown Bear, two Wallaroo Kangaroos, three Great Kangaroos, 
four Coypu Rats, two Talegallas, two Viscachas, two Angora 
Goats, one Black Leopard. Black Swans, several Silver and other 
Pheasants, and nearly one hundred and fifty Geese and Ducks of 
various kinds have been reared. 
The deaths have been numerous, the most important having 
been several fine Ourang-utans, one Plymadryas Baboon, one 
Lioness, one Zebra mare, one Nylghaie, one dwarf Indian Cow, 
three Cassowaries, one Leopard, one Crowned Crane, one Stanley 
Crane, one Axis Deer. And one Gnu, one Bactrian Camel, one 
Peccary, and one Condor died on board the s.s. Flensburgh on the 
passage out from Europe to Melbourne. 
In October last year, the Hon. R. W. Best, M.P., and Mr. C. M. 
Officer were reappointed as Government members of the Council, 
and Mr. D. N. McLeod, M.P., was appointed a member in the 
place of the Hon. R. D. Reid, who was reluctantly compelled to 
retire on account of ill health. 
The Council desires to tender its best thanks to the retiring 
President, Major Purchas, for the attention he has paid to the 
duties which devolved on him during his term of office; and also 
to Mr. G. W. Bruce, the Hon. Treasurer—both of whom have 
assisted the Directors in every way in their power. 
The Council likewise desires to record its high appreciation 
of the efforts of the Directors, Officers, and Employes of the 
Society, and to 'place on record that they consider the Assistant- 
Director’s late visit to England and the Continent has been a 
very successful one, and likely to be of much benefit hereafter 
to the Society. 
The Council also thanks Mr. Kendall, the Hon. Veterinary 
Surgeon, for his kind attention whenever required. The thanks 
of the Council are also due to all who have kindly presented 
birds or animals to the collection. 
