402 ,iv :, A Visit ta the 



earnest desire to direct the public taste to healthful sources of 

 recreation, there can be no jealous rivalry ; and in the present 

 case, too, the Surrey Zoological Gardens and those in the 

 Regent's Park are so distant from each other, that, while thi^ 

 distance will prevent each from trenching on the interests of 

 the other, it will enable the public, according to the point froi;^ 

 which they visit, to partake of the recreation eitlier may afford 

 without inconvenience or fatigue. : ; ; 



In a late visit [February] to the Surrey Zoological Gai;-|- 

 dens, I observed that the most strenuous exertions wer^ 

 being made to render them attractive and useful, as well to the 

 lovers of botany and to the public generally, as to the lovers 

 of zoology. The sides of the principal walks and avenues 

 were being planted with a rich variety of trees and shrubs, of 

 species both native and exotic. These, independently of the 

 attraction of the animals, must, as they become established^ 

 and develope their varied and characteristic outlines, and the 

 diversified forms and many-coloured hues of their foliage, 

 constitute a rich source of gratification to the observant visiter, 

 and render the gardens an available resource to the artist, the 

 botanist, and, in short, to all who take pleasure in observing 

 or exploring the charms of vegetable nature. It is, I was 

 informed, to be one of the characteristics of this establishment, 

 that every possible facility will be rendered to every artist, 

 student, or other enquirer, towards the accomplishment of the 

 object he has in view ; and, should this enlightened policy con- 

 tinue to be practically observed, it is easy to anticipate that 

 very important benefits to science must daily result from \\^ 

 facilities at the disposal of such an establishment. .^..j 



The site selected for these gardens was formerly that of tl|^ 

 manor house and grounds of Walworth, and comprises an 

 extent of 15 acres, including a beautiful sheet of water of 

 nearly 3 acres. \ j\(\p^ 



On entering the gardens by the Camber well Road entrahoe^ 

 the first objects are a neat Gothic corridor, with two entrance 

 lodges, forming a covered piazza of about 60 ft. long, calculated 

 for company waiting for their carriages. From the mode of 

 colouring adopted [technically called splashing], this building 

 has the appearance of having been erected a century ago ; its 

 battlements are also already covered with ivy and other climbs- 

 ing plants. On passing this, you enter a spacious lawn 

 studded with many rare and ornamental trees of most luxu- 

 riant growth. Here are situated aviaries containing various 

 species of curassows, jungle fowl, foreign partridges, &c. ; with 

 a circular pond, in which are the beautiful summer duck, 

 teal, widgeon, pochard, and many other varieties of aquatic 



