NATURAL HISTOKT, TORONTO REGIO] 



that of the University of London. The Universit 

 thus became merely an examining body. The 

 ing of the Arts faculty was handed over to a ne 

 foundation known as " University College," whi< 

 became " the vital centre of the University."* Fc 

 this new college the beautiful Norman-Gothic builc 

 ing was constructed which is still its pride and it 

 home. On St. Valentine's Day in 1890 a fire 

 stroyed the eastern half of the stately pile, which 

 tained the Library and the Convocation Hall, 

 in the case of the rare Arabian bird, this loss, apj 

 ently irreparable at the time, proved ultimately 

 gain, arid the opening of a new era of expansion 

 the history of the University. Toronto for once s^ 

 pathized, Quebec sent ten thousand dollars, and 

 Ontario Legislature passed an Act the next day pi 

 viding for the restoration of the building in a mai 

 more suitable to the enlarged classes which had 

 to crowd its halls. The generosity of individual cit 

 zens supplied funds for a new library, to which cai 

 contributions in books from all parts of the worl 

 Germany alone sent seven thousand volumes, 

 building is on the east side of the lawn. To 

 south-west rises the new Convocation Hall, due 

 part to the gifts of the alumni. The inner hall 

 admirable acoustic properties, and contains an 01 

 made by Casavant, of Quebec, in perfect keepii 

 with its surroundings. Other University buildii 

 around the lawn are the Medical, with its Palladij 



* Chancellor Burwash, " The University of Toronto 

 its Colleges," p. 39. 



38 



