354 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



with the colour of which it harmonises admirably. The edifice 

 is about 120 ft. long by 60 ft. broad, and has a vestibule at the 

 south front measuring 35 ft. by 14 ft. It is of one storey only, 

 with a fine stone coping, on the top of which a balustrade runs 

 all round the building. The windows, which for the sake of light 

 and warmth face the south, are nine in number; and the roof, 

 which is of double span from back to front, with iron girders and 

 ties, has, for the same reason, each southern slope glazed, and 

 each northern slope slated. The two roof-lights have thus a 

 superficial area of 72 ft. by 6 ft. The walls are 21ft. in height, 

 exclusive of the balustrading above, while the roofs of the pavilions 

 rise to 30 ft., and are surmounted with finials about 4 ft. higher. 



Interiorly the wall-cages, wide and lofty, extend round three 

 sides of the building, and in the centre of the floor is an oval 

 tank about 25 ft. long for the Crocodiles and Alligators, with two 

 smaller ones for Turtles and Terrapins. 



The wall-cages, twenty-eight in number, are faced with plate- 

 glass permanently fixed, so that the particular temperature main- 

 tained in each is not felt by the spectator, who is enabled to 

 observe the activity of the reptiles under conditions favourable 

 and natural to them, without being inconvenienced by an op- 

 pressive atmosphere. Moreover, a proper elevation is given to 

 the tanks in the cages of the aquatic or semi-aquatic species, 

 and these being made of glass, instead of zinc as heretofore, 

 the movements of the creatures in the water can be well 

 observed. 



The heating of the cages and tanks is effected by means of 

 hot-water pipes, the precise temperature in each case being 

 regulated by the number and dimensions of the pipes used, as well 

 as by an adjustment of their valves ; the hot water being supplied 

 by two of Weeks's tubular iron boilers sunk below the level of 

 the ground in the rear of the building. 



All round the interior of the Reptile House at the back of the 

 wall-cages is an unseen passage for the keepers, to enable them 

 to cleanse the cages properly, feed the occupants, and fill their 

 baths for them, the access to the cages being by means of sliding 

 doors. 



The wall-cages extend round three sides of the building, the 

 fourth side having a good entrance, with windows on either hand. 

 As we enter the building and turn to the left, passing a few 



