234 



A VISIT TO THE JARDIN DES PLANTES. 



long avenues of noble Linden trees, of 

 which we have before spoken, and whose 

 branches are so skilfully trimmed, as to 

 present to the observer beneath a beauti- 

 fully arched canopy of living green. In 

 the distance, at the other extremities of 

 these two fine avenues, is seen the cabinet 

 of Natural History. On the left, and along 

 the southern side of the garden, are fine 

 specimens of forest trees of various kinds, 

 the Coniferge being arranged separately. 

 Immediately in front, and extending the 

 whole length of the garden, are the 

 beds of small plants, arranged botanically, 

 and containing nearly all the known hardy 

 plants for medicinal or domestic use. There 

 is also a sunken space, surrounded by a 

 railing, which presents, at the proper sea- 

 son, a gorgeous display of flowering shrubs. 

 To the right of these, is a range of inclo- 

 sures, forming part of the School of Bota- 

 ny, and containing a complete botanical 

 collection — some 12,000 species — for the 

 use of students of this branch of natural 

 science. Beyond these, in the same range, 

 are spacious buildings for the geological, 

 mineralogical, and botanical collections. 

 Farther west, is an enclosed space, contain- 

 ing a pomological garden and hotbeds. 

 Behind these, stands a long range of con- 

 servatories, the form and contents of which 

 we may detail hereafter. Between two of 

 these is a broad walk, leading to two arti- 

 ficial elevations, one of which is planted 

 with specimens of every known variety of 

 the Coniferse. The other is called the la- 

 byrinth, from its winding path, bordered 

 by close hedges, some six or seven feet 

 high, and ascending to the top where the 

 visitor is glad to rest in a comfortable pa- 

 vilion with seats. From this point is a 

 very extensive view of the whole garden 

 and the city and country adjacent, and 

 from this point was made the drawing for 



our engraving, (see frontispiece.) On this 

 mound, near the top, is a granite column, on 

 a pedestal of various minerals — a monument 

 to the memory of Daubenton. 



Just beneath the labyrinth is a very fine 

 Cedar of Lebanon, apparently older than 

 any we saw in England. It was presented 

 by Collinson to Jussieu in 1734, and now 

 measures about ten feet in circumference, 

 at seven feet from the ground. Near this 

 is an enclosed space containing a lecture 

 room, the botanical gallery and a residence 

 for the Professors. The lecture room is 

 said to hold some twelve hundred persons, 

 while nearly double that number attend 

 some of the various lectures delivered there. 

 Near these buildings is the commencement 

 of the menagerie, which to many visiters is 

 the most attractive part of the garden. The 

 wild beasts are kept in a large building, and 

 are arranged advantageously in dens, with 

 strong bars of iron. They are fed regularly 

 at a certain hour, when there may gene- 

 rally be seen a crowd collected to view the 

 performance. The tame animals are kept 

 in little parks or enclosures, one of which is 

 devoted to each species, and a suitable 

 house or shelter provided for each. In one 

 place will be found camels, zebras and other 

 tropical animals, while in another our North 

 American bison, and various animals from 

 the north of Europe and Asia luxuriate in 

 the comparative freedom which is granted 

 them. The bison, however, the elephant, 

 and the giraffe, are kept much of the time 

 in a large high building, called the rotunda, 

 erected especially for their accommodation. 

 The aviary, or rather volerie, contains many 

 varieties of the eagle and vulture, and there 

 are also some very beautiful pheasants, with 

 ostriches, cassowaries, aquatic birds, &c. 

 A crowd is generally collected about the 

 paved pits in which are kept the bears. 

 Each of these is provided with a cell, and 



