12 Life Beneath the Waves. 



ground plan of the Aquarium,., my readers 

 will observe a flight of steps leading to the 

 building; these steps (twenty-three feet in 

 width) are composed of granite, with 

 spacious landings, and ornamental stone 

 balustrades at the sides : descending these 

 steps, the visitor finds himself in an open 

 court, considerably below the new road- way. 

 The dimensions of this entrance court are 

 sixty feet by forty; it is arcaded on three 

 sides by enriched terra-cotta arches, coupled 

 columns, and entablature of Italian cha- 

 racter in the same material ; the columns 

 have carved terra-cotta caps, red and 

 bun , whilst the keystones of the arches 

 consist of figures of mermaids; scrip- 

 tural texts in mosaic letters being inserted 

 in the frieze. 



From this court the visitor passes on to 

 the entrance hall of the Aquarium, an 



