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ponderous characters of the animals sheltered, while the 
interior should be but a rocky chamber or cavern, wherein 
the geological specimens of rock composing it, shall be 
geologically arranged, so as to explain their relationship to 
the animal forms exhibited. This united with the pictorial 
representations of the natural condition of the rocks, dis- 
playing the connection between the animal and vegetable 
kingdoms of that time, would convey information in a most 
complete and consecutive manner; then if to these instructive 
lessons in Geology, were added a grand aquarium for the 
display of examples of living fish and other inhabitants of 
the waters, with the artificial breeding and growth of the 
fish, the whole would be in such perfect harmony, and would 
so fitly combine entertainment with instruction, that it would 
enable the juvenile portion of this vast city to be instructed 
in Natural History in the easiest form, through the medium 
of the eye, during the winter ; and thus would supply a want 
long felt by the citizens of New York. This plan of the 
aquarium has been tried at Hamburg, and has met with sueh 
great success that the Directors of the Crystal Palace, 
England, have now commenced a similar work as an attraction 
of considerable pecuniary advantage. The Museum in ques- 
tion possesses this great advantage of situation, that the 
visitors would have entrance and exit at 8th Avenue (where 
the traffic is already arranged) during the winter, without in- 
terfering with the rules respecting the closing of the Park. 
Yours faithfully, ' 
B. WATERHOUSE HAWKINS. 
On the 22d of December, I received the following notice 
from the Department of Public Parks: 
si, 
At a meeting of the Department of Public Parks held on 
the 20th inst., the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, 
that the existing arrangements for the services of Prof. B. 
Waterhouse Hawkins, sconneeted with the establishment of 
a Paleozoic Museum or otherwise, be discontinued until the 
further action of the Board. 
Respectfully, Geo. VAN Nort, Clerk, D. P. P. 
