50 Tower Menagerie. 



The Zoological Periodicals. — Curtis's British Entomology, No. LXII., 

 for February (Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 54.). — Stephens's Illustrations of 

 British Entomology, No. XXIII., for February (Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. i. 

 p. 55.). — Sowerby's Genera of Recent and Fossil Shells, No. XXXI. 

 {Mag. Nat. Hist., vol.i. p. Se.). — Sweet's British Warblers {Mag. Nat, 

 Hist., vol. I. p. 57.) is completed in one volume 8vo, 16 col. pi., 16s. 6d, 

 This is. a very handsome work ; the plates are from living specimens in 

 the author's collection, " including the nightingale, redstart, blackcap, 

 whitethroat, garden warbler, and all the interesting birds of passage belong- 

 ing to the genus Sylvia, which contains '^the choice singing birds that visit 

 this country ; with a full account of the author's method of treating them, 

 in which is shown how they may be kept in confinement in as good health 

 as any common bird whatever." 



The Tower Menagerie ; comprising the Natural History of the Animals 

 contained in that Establishment, with Anecdotes of their Characters 

 and History. Illustrated by Portraits of each, taken from life, by 

 William Harvey, [and engraved on Wood by Branston and Wright. 

 London. 8vo. 



The wood engravings which illustrate this work are equal, if not supe- 

 rior, to any thing which has appeared since the invention of the art ; and 

 they show how extensively, and with what advantage, that description of 

 illustration may be employed in natural history. Much of the effect of a 

 wood engraving depends on the paper on which the impression is taken, 

 and on the care and skill of the pressman. In the present work every pos- 

 sible care seems to have been taken in these respects ; and, in consequence, 

 one of the most elegant octavo volumes has been produced which ever 

 issued from the British press. The literary matter is also highly entertain- 

 ing and instructive. The history of sixty wild animals, including some 

 birds and serpents, is given ; and, in the introduction, is ably and elegantly 

 traced the origin and progress of menageries. Menageries date from the 

 most remote antiquity, and are alluded to even in the obscure traditions of 

 fabulous ages. The barbarian warrior sought amusement in the chase, and 

 treasured up his spoils in common with the trophies of battle. Afterwards 

 the strength and ferocity of the brutes of the forest were rendered avail- 

 able as auxiliaries in war ; and the animals so employed were confined in 

 what may be considered as menageries. 



Many wild animals occupied a distinguished place in the theology of the 

 dark ages : they were either worshipped or sacrificed, and for these pur- 

 poses must have been preserved in some sort of menagery. The domesti- 

 cation of animals may be considered as having taken place by similar 

 means j and fields and stables, and their inhabitants, only differ from the 

 apartments for wild animals in containing those which minister to neces- 

 sity and convenience, instead of curiosity and science. Aristotle's Historic 

 of Animals is materially indebted to the menagery formed in civilised Greece 

 by the Macedonian conqueror, on his return from India. The Romans had 

 first menageries for the use of the public amphitheatres, and afterwards 

 vivaria of rare and curious animals, for the gratification of naturalists. The 

 first establishment of this kind, in modern days, was that founded at Ver- 

 sailles by Lewis XIV., and to that we owe the Natural History of Buffon. 

 The first notice of a royal menagery in England relates to a collection of lions, 

 leopards, and other strange beasts, kept at Woodstock by King Henry I. 

 From Woodstock they were transferred to the Tower, and the Sheriffs of 

 London, Bedford, and Buckingham, of this and succeeding reigns, had 

 orders to maintain these animals and their keepers. " In 1252, the Sheriffs 

 of London were commanded to pay four-pence a day for the maintenance 

 of a white bear ; and, in the following year, to provide a muzzle and chain 



