14 DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING. 
wMle the space surrounding the smoke-shafts is used for draw- 
ing off the vitiated air from the various galleries contiguous 
thereto. The front galleries are ventilated into the front towel's, 
which form the crowning feature of the main front. These' 
towers also contain, above the second floor, various rooms for 
the work of the different heads of departments, and on the 
topmost storey large cisterns for the purpose of always having 
at hand a considerable storage of water in case of fire. On the 
western side of the building, where it is intended that the 
Zoological collection shall be placed, the ornamentation of the 
terra-cotta (which will be found very varied both within and 
without the building) has been based exclusively on living 
organisms. On the east side, where Geology and Palaeontology 
find a home, the terra-cotta ornamentation has been derived 
from extinct specimens. 
" The Museum is the largest, if not, indeed, the only, modern 
building in which terra-cotta has been exclusively used for 
external fafades and interior wall-surfaces, including all the 
varied decoration which this involves." 
Space oocu- The space covered by the building itself, including the 
pied by build- detached portion behind, which contains the collections of 
ing and ^ 
grounds. animals preserved in spirit, is nearly four acres. 
The whole ground on which the Museum stands, including the 
gardens which surround it on the south, east and west sides, is 
12 acres and 635 yards. The gardens are open to the public 
whenever the Museum itself is open, under certain regulations 
which are posted at the entrance gates. 
