Miscellaneous, 6l 



with such force as to carry down a great quantity of air in very mi- 

 nute division — so much, in fact, that I thought it was done by an 

 air-pump, until the attendant obUged me by allowing me to go be- 

 hind the scenes and inspect the contrivance. 



The " monde " de la mer in these tanks were truly wonderful : 

 large fish a yard long, soles and skates of ample proportions, with 

 lobster, crayfish, and numerous species of fish of brilliant colours, 

 from the Mediterranean. Hundreds of anemones made a sort of flower- 

 garden ; and the effect was so interesting and so beautiful that it has 

 but to be seen to be believed and appreciated. 



The aquarium at the Zoological Gardens, which formerly attracted 

 so much attention, was a mere baby to it, and gave no idea of the 

 behaviour of the great-grandfather fish which are here contained. 



It occurred to me that, if I was a child and fell in love with 

 this beautiful exhibition, there must be hundreds and thousands 

 of grown-up children who would also like to be introduced to the 

 " Monde de la Mer." Then why not get up a bigger "mer'* and a 

 more distinguished " monde " at the Zoological Gardens ? 



The place would be the bank sloping to the canal, looking towards 

 the north ; for fish have a decided natural objection to be cooked by 

 a southern sun. And the moment I arrive in England I shall rush to 

 the Zoo' to see if perfidious Albion has copied the idea and out- 

 mer'd and out-mon^fe'd the ** Monde de la Mer" of Paris. 



I remain, my dear Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 



Hotel Meurice, Paris. Alfred Smee. 



Nov. 19, 1866. 



Bursting of a Monster Aquarium at the "Monde de Mer^ 



A curious accident happened two days ago at the Aquarium esta- 

 blishment on the Boulevard Montmartre. At about three in the 

 afternoon the visitors were suddenly alarmed by a loud detonation. 

 The glass of the largest of the reservoirs filled with sea-water gave 

 way, and the contents were precipitated all over the place. The 

 alarmed spectators hastened to make their escape, and fortunately 

 no one was seriously hurt. One gentleman was slightly cut on the 

 chin, the arm, and the knee by some fragments of glass. The cause 

 of the accident is a mystery, the supposition, however, now being 

 that the glass was not strong enough to resist the pressure of the 

 water, as the vessel contained about 15,000 gallons, being the largest 

 in the establishment, and measuring nearly 15 feet in length. — 

 Standard^ Dec. 14, 1866. 



On the Eyes of Caterpillars. By Hermann Landois. 



Although the eyes of caterpillars attracted the attention of so 

 ancient an anatomist as Malpighi, the most different statements 

 with regard to them are met with, and some recent authors have 

 even completely denied their existence. These eyes, nevertheless, 



