20 -4>t Introduction to Zoology. 



The sciences relating to organic life, constitute a very im])ortant element 

 of human knowledge ; they include the consideration of all organised matter, 

 whether wrought into an animal or a vegetable form, all the curious and 

 beautiful organic structures which present themselves spontaneously to our 

 daily view, as well as those for the knowledge of which we are indebted to 

 the labours of the anatomist and botanist, and to the scrutinising eye of 

 the microscopic observer. Astronomy and Geology are sciences of an 

 exnansive chaiacter : they calculate the bulk and density of t!ie planets, 

 predict the periods of their revolntions, or exhibit the cataclysms to which 

 our globe has ])een subjected, and the traces of that chaos and confusion 

 out of which the present order of its materials has been educed. They 

 lead the mind to contemplate the infinitudes of space and time, challenging 

 without hyperbole the highest powers of the imagination, only to shew 

 that even those powers are insufiicient. 



Anatomy, on the other hand, astonishes us by the minuteness of its 

 wonders, and displays indications of design as cogent aud as striking in the 



The books, scientific and other journals, papers, maps, etc., are contained in the 

 two Readmg-rooms ; the apparatus, mechanical, hydrostatical, optical, pneumatic, 

 and chemical, in the Apparaii(ij-room and Lahoratory , down stairs ; the aquatic birds, 

 and a small part of the local geological specimens arc arranged, with the fossil 

 saurians, in the Committee-room. In the Lobl/i/, Hall, and upon the Stair-ease, are 

 models, casts, has reliefs, and busts, together with several mummies and mummy 

 cases, and the skeleton of a mummy. 



The Octagonal-room, abo^-e the lobby, contains the skeleton of the larger mam- 

 malia, birds, and reptiles ; in the cases above are specimens of coral ; and below are 

 tatocd heads, and military and domestic implements, from New Zealand ; several 

 models, and divers musical instruments. 



The Mineral-room, opening from the S. W. angle of the great room, contains a 

 good collection of minerals, arranged after the method of Phillips ; a small cabinet 

 of rocks, arranged by Werner ; a series of organic remains, arranged geologically ; 

 several corals, and a magnificent head and antlers of the fossil Irish elk. 



The Upper Room above this, accessible from the gallery, contains collections of 

 Crustacea; and asteriae, coins and medals, models of cromlechs, etc. ; African and 

 South Sea implements, Chinese and Burman books and MSS. Egyptian idols and 

 scarabsi, and various urns from De\'erill Barrow, etc. 



The Zoological-room is at the opposite diagonal of the great room. It contains 

 skeletons and stufled spicimens of the vertebrated animals. In the gallery is the re- 

 mainder of the ornithological collection ; over the door-way an enormous head of an 

 elephant ; and in the centre of the room, the original statue of ' Eve at the fountain,' 

 by- Bailey. 



The Great-room, from which the latter apartments open, contains a suite of casts 

 from the pediment of the temple of Jupiter Panhellenius, at Egina; a frieze from the 

 temple of Apollo, near Phigalia ; and casts from the Apollo of the Vatican, the 

 Venus di Medicis, Dying Gladiator, Laacoon, etc., with several smaller figures ; a full 

 length picture of Gen. Moore, and the Temptation by Rippeugille. The conchological 

 collection occupies the cases in the centre, and around the gallery are the Miller 

 collection of crinoidca, the materials of his celebrated monograph, and various 

 reptiles, fish, and rooUusca, in spirits. 



