on the Site of Smithfield Market. 3199 



up for exhibition unless approved by some competent naturalist. In 

 the centre of each compartment should be a model of the continent 

 whose productions it exhibited, its ascertained mountains, its rivers, 

 seas, &c, displayed in their exact proportionate height, situation, 

 course, length, &c; and the unknown parts, as the interior of Africa, 

 Australia, China, &c, left a perfect blank, not thickly sown with sup- 

 posititious cities, as we too frequently see them in our maps. These 

 models should be constructed only under the superintendence of men 

 of the highest attainments, the cost being a matter of no comparative 

 importance, and not to be weighed for an instant against accuracy. 

 At each of these models a demonstrator should be stationed, thoroughly 

 qualified to give explanations, and he should hourly give such expla- 

 nations unasked, in the most simple, intelligible, and unassuming 

 manner, carefully pointing with a light wand to the part to which he 

 was alluding. If a plant or animal of interest was peculiar to either 

 continent, of which there are numerous instances, he should be able 

 to point out in what particular locality it occurred, and every other 

 fact of importance connected with its history. Thus, if asked what 

 species of monkey was found in Europe, and where, he should be able 

 to name the Macacuslnuus ; to point at once to the rock of Gibraltar; 

 and to state that this ape abounded there, feeding chiefly on the young 

 leaves and tender shoots of the dwarf palm [Chamcerops humilis) . 

 The plan of structure, and of connecting the various continents, need 

 scarcely be discussed, but between continents which are connected 

 only by water the mode of transmission should represent a ship's deck, 

 and those which join should be united by dry land. Each conti- 

 nent should be further illustrated by some of its aboriginal inhabi- 

 tants, in the ordinary dress of their respective countries. I imagine 

 there would be no difficulty in procuring the Negro, the Hindoo, the 

 Australian, the Red Indian, or the Indian of the Pampas. This idea 

 has been already pictorially carried out in the ' Physical Atlas,' but 

 only the very rich can see that beautiful work : this practical illus- 

 tration of the idea every one should and every one would see. 



Funds. — The difficulty of raising funds always stares one in the 

 face on occasions of this kind ; but it is scarcely within the scope of 

 this preliminary notice to go into financial details. It is found pos- 

 sible to obtain an income of £1 4,000 a year for the maintenance of 

 the gardens of the Zoological Society, in Regent's Park, at a distance 

 of five miles from the centre of the metropolis, and presenting the 

 single attraction of living animals; and the great secret of this income 

 appears to lie in the judiciously-liberal expenditure. The Crystal 



