Surrey Zoological Gardens. 4 0*3 



biilfei^' 'On leaving this part of the garden, you gain an nmm- 

 terrupited view of the lake, studded with little islands, while 

 on both sides are shrubberies, and the various buildings con- 

 taining the splendid collection of animals. 



Of the buildings, the chief is the dome-shaped circular con- 

 servatory, devoted to the large carnivorous animals. This is 

 a grand and unique building, of which I transcribe you the 

 dimensions, as I learned them at the gardens. The conserva- 

 tory is 300 ft. in circumference, and consists of a dwarf wall 

 which is about 3 ft. high, and covered with an iron coping from 

 which spring iron ribs, 400 in number, converging towards an 

 inner circle : these ribs form a curve and are about 20 ft. in 

 length. The whole of this space is glazed, and is entered by 

 four doors placed at equal distances in the circumference of 

 the building. The plan and design of the building have been 

 furnished, and carried into effect, under the superintendence 

 of Mr. H. Phillips of Brighton. It contains upwards of 

 30,000 squares of glass. Against the inner circle of this 

 building are the dens; containing the finest collection of the 

 large carnivorous animals I have ever witnessed. 



The specimens of the Barbary lion and Bengal tigers here 

 exhibited are most magnificent ones. The male lion of 

 Africa is by far the most noble and perfect specimen I ever 

 remember to have seen: and here, for the first time, I b# 

 held full-grown individuals of the true Asiatic lion; an aninj^ 

 of the greatest rarity, and which may be considered the pri4e 

 of the collection. Mr. Swainson is convinced it is a totally 

 different species to that of North Africa, and has accordingly 

 named it ieo asiaticus. There are, of course, numerous 

 specimens of leopards, jaguars, puma, and other kindred spe- 

 cies. From this building you pass to one of an octagonal 

 form, with paddocks radiating from it, in which are a remark- 

 ably fine elk or moose deer, various specimens of the lam% 

 alpaca, vicuna, a pair of fine gnus, the small bush kangaroos, 

 a fine ostrich, with two unique specimens of the cassowai^J^ 

 both of which are particularly beautiful birds. Of the eagl^ 

 tribe there are several rare species : the young of the whiter 

 headed eagle, the harpy (Falco destructor), and that doubtfi4 

 species named Rappel's vulture. A mass of rockwork 9f 

 ruins has been erected for the rapacious birds, with chamb§rjp 

 underneath, communicating with a run of water for beaver^ 

 one of which has been presented by N. Garry, Esq., of t^ 

 Hudson's Bay Company. 



Two very tasteful lodges have been erected for the entrance 

 from the Kennington Road. 



On the whole, I think, a more suitable and delightful 



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