490 Natural History in the English Counties. 



AUSTRALIA. 



Lmid Crabs. — In the forests of Guam, more than a mile from the shore, 

 MM. Quoy and Gaimard found a very large species of Pagura, with violet 

 claws, lodged in the shells of ^uccina, and covered with an earthy crust, 

 which appears to be their constant abode. Some of these Pagurae had the 

 faculty of emitting a sort of froth when they were irritated. They were 

 attracted by light ; for one night, when encamped on shore, the sailors 

 lighted a fire, and a large Pagura came towards it from a considerable dis- 

 tance, and became the victim of his curiosity, being cooked in his own house, 

 and afterwards devoured. 



It appears that there are two divisions of this tribe ; one living on land, 

 the other in water; the marine species being distinguished by rounded eyes, 

 set upon the extremities of long cylindric peduncles. The land species, on 

 the approach of danger, always retreat, either into accidental crevices or 

 holes, or preferably under the roots or into the hollow trunks of trees ; 

 never, or, at least, rarely, into the sea, though it be near them. 



Art. II. Natural History in the English Counties. 



Liverpool Botanic Garden. — A clever sketch of the origin, rise, progress, 

 and present state of this establishment is given in the Albion, a Liver- 

 pool newspaper, for June 4. 1827, from which we make the following 

 extract : — 



" The garden was laid out, about twelve years ago, under the auspices of 

 several gentlemen, amongst whom was the venerable and gifted Mr. Roscoe, 

 and its success has fully equalled the most sanguine expectations. It com- 

 prises five acres of land, and is well enclosed by a stone wall, which is over- 

 topped by a thriving hedge, giving it at once privacy and shelter. The 

 ground narrows towards the north, and terminates in the frontage formed 

 by the gate, and two plain lodges on each side of it. The visitor, after sur- 

 veying the monotony of the surrounding fields, which are barren and 

 mossy, is agreeably surprised to find himself embowered, on entering within 

 the inner gate, in shady walks skirted by the choicest ornamental shrubs and 

 trees. On leaving this pleasure-ground, which is laid out with much taste, 

 .and contains an extensive rockery, in which, amongst many curious speci- 

 mens of stones and minerals, are seen a fragment of the Giant's Causeway, 

 the conservatory presents itself, an erection of great magnitude and ele- 

 gance of structure {fig- 205.), extending across nearly the whole breadth of 

 the ground, and sheltered, at the back, by a row of black Italian poplars. 

 The middle apartment of this splendid range is the most lofty, and projects 

 with a semicircular front, supported by four handsome Ionic columns. At 

 each end is a similar projecting apartment, on a smaller scale and less 

 elaborate in style. From the latter, spacious walks run southward to the 

 bottom of the garden, which also terminates in a delightful pleasure-ground, 

 variegated by beautiful shrubs, amongst which are observed the copper 

 beech, the scarlet thorn, the snow-drop tree, and numbers of tribes of 

 rhododendrons, and every choice shrub which will flourish in the open air. 

 This ground embraces also the angle at the southwest corner, formed by 

 the widening of the ground to the south ; the main portion, for the culture 

 of fine flowers, being embraced in a square, running parallel with the east 

 wall. Nothing can be better contrived upon the allotted space than the 

 windings of the walks in the pleasure-ground, the margins of which are 

 closely carpeted with grass, affording a variety of occasional glades or 

 recesses. 



