113 
THE PARIS EXHIBITION OF 18G7. 
[Nature and Art, April 1 , 18G7. 
they are even more remarkable than the accounts 
of them led us to expect. They will contain an 
immense number of specimens, and the two 
systems of construction — one consisting of a 
series of niches in the sides of a large cavern, 
while the other consists entirely of iron and glass, 
open to inspection from the sides as well as above 
and below — will oiler useful means of comparison. 
The cavern system, as adopted in the aquarium of 
the Javelin d’ Acclimatation, certainly shows small 
creatures to considerable advantage, but it has the 
great disadvantage of presenting only one face to 
the world, so that only a small number of persons 
can see at a time. The other system, on the 
contrary, will accommodate the largest possible 
number of visitors. The canal, lakes, cascade, and 
all works connected with the aquariums are ready. 
While speaking of the aquariums and their 
tenants, we must not forget to state that a number 
of the great carp from Fontainebleau are to appear 
in a lake in this garden. Some of these fish are 
very old and of enormous size, and it is a question 
whether they will take a great interest in the 
Exhibition; but the Fontainebleau carp are amongst 
the lions of France, and of course the Exhibition 
would not be complete without them. 
There will be many other attractions in the 
garden : large collections of living birds, — a number 
of liummiiig-birds, it is said, amongst the rest ; a 
botanical diorama, in which representations will ap- 
pear of rare trees and plants which cannot be shown 
otherwise; and lastly, though not at all consequently, 
the jewels of the French crown. These will be 
exhibited in an iron and plate-glass case, which will 
be let down at night into a strong safe sunk in the 
ground. In the centre of the garden will be a 
pavilion appropriated to the use of the Empress. 
The shrubberies and flower-beds are being planted 
and arranged, and the greater part of the walks 
are already gravelled and in fair condition, so that 
there is little anxiety about this part of the Exhi- 
bition. 
Another recent visit has furnished us with yet 
more memoranda. Stained glass is now being placed 
in the clerestory windows on the French side of the 
grand vestibule ; the floor is being paved with tiles 
composed of concrete and asplialte, black, with 
white figures. The model church lias also two or 
more painted windows in place, and the interior is 
being brilliantly decorated with sculpture and 
colour. 
To the above may be added a few observations of 
general interest. The great extent of the building 
and grounds has given rise to an interesting 
nomenclature. Of the sixteen radial avenues in the 
building, one is the grand vestibule, mentioned 
above, and the others have been named as follows : 
Rues de France, d’ Alsace, de Normandie , de Flandre, 
de Lorraine, and de Provence (an extra secondary 
avenue, which limits the French section, being called 
the Rue d’A Ig'erie), Rues des Pays Pas, de Belgique , 
de Prusse, d’ Autriclie, d’Espagne, de Russie, d A frique, 
deslndes, et d’A ngleterre. In like manner the two 
great roads in the pai’k are called the Avenue 
d' Europe and the Ghemin circulaire des deux Mondes. 
The secondary promenades are called Avenues , and 
the lesser A llees, and are named after the French pro- 
vinces, Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Tunis, 
Morocco, Japan, Germany, Bohemia, Hungary, 
Brabant, Zealand, Holland, and other places. The 
Imperial Commission has also commenced fixing 
indications, outside the building as well as in the 
central garden, of the countries to be found in the 
vicinity of each of the avenues within, the names of 
all the countries contained in each part being 
inscribed in very conspicuous characters. 
Another arrangement which men of business and 
others will appreciate, is the establishment of a 
regular post and telegraph office, with paste restante 
attached ; there will also be a branch office in the 
Club-house, which is situated at another extremity 
of the park. 
The waters of the Seine have not been friendly 
to the Exhibition. The river was so full for weeks 
that little or nothing could be carried on by the 
water-side ; two immense sheds were, however, 
erected some time since, and they are now being 
filled with gigantic marine boilers, and other ap- 
paratus connected with nautical matters, By the 
side of these marine sheds are several smaller ones, 
which are intended to contain yachts, pleasure-boats, 
and models. 
In connection with the general arrangem ent, it may 
be mentioned that more than five hundred pages of 
the catalogue are in type in the office of M. Dupont, 
the printer for M. Dentu, the concessionnaire, 
and the sheets, as fast as they appear, are, in pur- 
suance of an arrangement with the Commission and 
M. Dentu, being translated into English, and set up 
by Messrs. J. M. Johnson & Co., of London. This will 
be the first instance of the whole of the catalogue 
of an universal exhibition being published in any 
other language than that of the country in which 
the exhibition occurred. Another very great ad- 
vantage will be that each of these catalogues will 
be published in sections, each section containing 
the whole of the exhibitors of all countries in the 
same group. This is a collateral advantage arising 
out of the arrangement of the contents of the Ex- 
hibition systematically as well as geographically. 
Lastly, we may state that the opening of the last 
preliminary act of the Exhibition has been marked 
by the opening of two or three of the French cafes 
and an Austrian beer-house; and in a few days, after 
taking a walk in the avenue of Tunis or the alley 
of Japan, the visitor may lunch in Russia, dine in 
Great Britain, and take his coffee in France. 
