1812 TlIK Z0OLOGIST»-A0GU8T, l8(iS. 



the whole I must confess to being disappointed with the quadrupeds 

 and birds, which are mostly very well stuffed but too crowded, and 

 many of them, like those in the British Museum, much faded in colour. 

 Some of the birds, however, are models of the preserver's art: a mag- 

 nificent ostrich, in particular, deserves attention, from the skill with 

 which the naked pink skin of the head and neck is rendered. Some 

 of the larger Cetacea are represented by painted casts and models, a 

 good plan in the case of animals so difficult to preserve entire. I was 

 also much pleased with the well-arranged series of birds' nests, much 

 more advantageously displayed than those in the British Museum, and 

 each accompanied by specimens of the architects. As to the Galleries 

 of Comparative Anatomy and of Anthropology, they are beyond all 

 praise. 



Naturalists visiting Paris should not fail to seek out M. Duval's 

 "Grand Aquarium," Boulevart Montmartre, No. 21. This being a 

 private enterprise, and principally intended as a popular exhibition, 

 the arrangements are in some cases somewhat theatrical, but the tanks, 

 of great size and admirably designed, contain a large collection of 

 marine and fresh-water animals, apparently in perfect health. Among 

 others there are examples of the Japanese salamander (Sieboldia 

 maxima) aud the axolotl (Axoloteles guttatus), congers of from twenty- 

 six to thirty inches in length, barbels, gray mullets, Hippocampi and 

 pipe-fish in considerable numbers, and most of the commoner marine 

 and fresh-water fish, including several torpedoes, native and foreign. 

 Some of the common three-spined sticklebacks are exhibited in salt 

 water, in which they appear to thrive perfectly. I observed one of 

 the common river lampreys attached to the head of a dying bleak : 

 Yarrell notes that this species feeds on the flesh of dead fish, but does 

 not mention that it attacks live ones like its marine congener : in Loch 

 Lomond Mr. 11. Gray states that it preys on the powan {Coregoiuts 

 Lacepedei), " which are often taken in a dying state with lainperns 

 sticking fast on their sides." — (Keddie's Guide Book). On emerging 

 from the winding galleries of rock-work which compose the " Grand 

 Aquarium," one cannot help wondering why a private speculator 

 should be allowed so completely to out-do our powerful and usually 

 energetic Zoological Society in this matter of water-works. 



The only other museum I had leisure to visit was a small but well- 

 arranged one at Basle, containing interesting local collections, of 

 which 1 had only time to study the Mammalia. Among the bats 

 1 noticed V. noctula, V. murinus, V. pipislrellus, V. serotinus, V. dis- 



