NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 159 
All the Orchids, all the Clusiacez, the Cyclanthex, the Pandane, 
were completely destroyed, either by the shells themselves or by 
the effects of the cold. The large Palm-house was destroyed, 
and the tender tropical contents were exposed to that bitter cold 
night; yet, singularly enough, although they have suffered se- 
verely, not one has yet died. Imagine Kew Gardens under a 
heavy fire, and Dr. Hooker standing disconsolate in the midst of 
them, his most cherished plants in ribands, and his glass-houses a 
mass of powder, and we can form some idea of what M. Decaisne 
suffered during those fifteen nights, when shells came bursting un- 
der his windows, sending splinters into his flower garden and 
shaking his house to its foundations with every explosion. Feel- 
ing that, at all costs, he was bound to stick to his post, he passed 
the whole of his time actively engaged in covering up his plants 
in blankets, and straining every nerve to keep the cherished favor- 
ites of a lifetime from the ruthless missiles that were searching 
every nook and corner of the establishment. Two shells fell into 
the zoological gallery, one into the gallery of mineralogy, where it 
destroyed some beautiful pieces of paleontology. Three fell into 
the laboratories and museum, destroying a valuable collection of 
rare shells, which had just been classified. The houses, historical 
as having been the residences of Cuvier and Buffon, did not escape, 
but fortunately, although several of the shells were found to be full 
of combustible material, nothing was set on fire. All through the 
whole of the fortnight during which these gardens were subjected to 
this rain of shells, Messrs. Decaisne, Chevreuil, and Milne-Edwards 
remained at their post, unable to rest, and have since, at their own 
expense, repaired the damage done, trusting that, whatever form 
of government France may choose, it will not repudiate its debt 
of honor. The British public have nobly come forward to relieve 
the distress of the suffering population of Paris; I would now 
make an appeal to the comparatively small section of society 
whose glass-houses may perhaps be supplied with plants which 
may replace those which have been destroyed. M. Decaisne is 
making out a list of his losses, a large proportion of which might 
possibly be supplied from Kew, while owners of private collec- 
tions might also be glad to testify their sympathy and interest in 
the cause of science by contributing whatever they may be able to 
spare as soon as the amount and nature of the loss is ascertained. 
I feel no doubt that it will be enough to make the facts known for 
