Several fountains with marble basins and artistic figures 

 spouting crystal water, as well as statues, columns and 

 antiques ornamented this attractive "Lust-Garten." 



Near the bottom of the natural slope was a group of 

 strongly built, low-roofed huts, open on one side and fitted 

 with stout iron gratings, in which were confined wild animals 

 from Asia, Africa, and even from distant America; lions, tigers, 

 leopards, panthers, bears and other savage beasts. The 

 custom of keeping a majestic lion in a cage in this locality 

 had existed from the fourteenth century, and the live beast 

 was regarded as a symbol of the heraldic lion 011 the imperial 

 arms, just as bears are seen to-day at Berne, preserved at 

 the cost of the Swiss canton. One of the lions born in cap- 

 tivity had been tamed and trained when a cub by Rudolph 

 himself, and was permitted to prowl around the workshops 

 under his master's control to the great alarm of his attendants 

 and to the consternation of the visitors ; this baby lion was 

 named O-takar. 



In the neighborhood of the animal hotises was a larger 

 building with a \vire-net front, filled with parrots and parro- 

 quets whose brilliant rainbow plumage was as attractive to 

 the eyes as their incessant chatter and shrill screeching was 

 offensive to the ears. This menagerie was founded by 

 Maximilian II and became under Rudolph the finest in all 

 Europe. 



Overlooking this well kept garden, on a height opposite 

 the Castle, was the ornate building erected by Ferdinand I, 

 known as the Belvedere, a choice gem among the imperial 

 edifices. Within its highly decorated walls a grand staircase 

 led to a magnificent hall crowded with pictures, statuary, 

 reliefs and casts. Rudolph, who had constructed a covered 

 passage leading from his private apartments in the palace to 

 the pleasure-garden, was accustomed to spend much time in 



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