Saunders) the Society owes the fine collection it possesses. The 

 want of attention now paid to these curious vegetable forms is 

 the more surprising, that their strange and bizarre appearance 

 strikes the eye of the ignorant, as much as their associations 

 (redolent of the air of the desert) affect the mind of the 

 instructed. 



Amongst the objects not strictly horticultural, which from 

 time to time have been exlubited in the Conservatory, may 

 be noticed specimens of the beautiful caterpillars of Bombyx 

 Cynthia, feeding and spinning their silken cocoons on the leaves 

 of the Ailantlms glandulosa, sent by Lady Dorothy Nevill witli 

 the view of encouraging that new branch of industry ; specimens 

 of the Cactus covered with the cochineal-insect ; and tree-frogs, 

 which were for a time kept in Fern cases, from which, however, 

 a number latterly escaped, and have established an independent 

 colony in the Conservatory, and their loud but not unpleasant 

 croaking may now be often heard in the summer evenings high 

 amongst the leaves of the trees and creepers. 



Of the works of Ai-t which decorate the Conservatory, we 

 have abeady spoken ; and the Exhibition of Sculpture, forming 

 whilst we write, is an additional illustration of the various 

 attractions of which that building is the centre. 



A series of semicircular tables, for plants, which have been 

 put up along its front walls, is worthy of notice. These are an 

 improvement upon the old plan of long narrow tables placed 

 against the wall ; having the advantage of permitting a number 

 of visitors to assemble round them and examine their contents 

 at one time. They are made of iron, and are so constructed 

 that boxes of earth can be placed beneath, in the middle next. 



