4 
STAIRCASE. 
The landscapes and architectural decorations of the 
Great Staircase are by Jacques Rousseau, whose skill in 
perspective was held in high estimation. The paintings 
on the ceiling, representing Phaeton petitioning Apollo 
for leave to drive his chariot* are by Charles de la Fosse, 
who, in his time, was deemed one of the best colourists 
of the French school, and of whom there are many 
valuable performances in France. 
On the first landing place, is a Llama from South 
America, where it is used as a beast of burthen ; pre¬ 
sented by Charles Darwin , Esq, 
Above the Llama is a specimen of the Stag ( Cervns 
elephas , Linn.). Presented by the Earl of Derby, 
Qn the second landing-place are a Musk Ox, from 
Melville Island, and a Polar Bear ; procured a few years 
ago in the Arctic expeditions, and presented by the Lords 
of the Admiralty . 
Over the Musk Ox is a specimen of the Striped An¬ 
telope of Pennant, from the Cape of Good Hope; and 
on the Polar Bear’s case, the Elk from Sweden. Both 
presented by the Trustees of the Hunterian Collection. 
Between these animals stands the trunk of an arbo¬ 
rescent Fern (Alsophila Brunoniana of Wallich) forty-five 
feet in height, from the mountains to the eastward of 
Silhet in Bengal. Presented by the East India Company. 
By the side of this is placed a transverse section of the 
stem of another arborescent Fern ( Dicksonia antarctica ). 
Presented by W. J. Broderip , Esq. 
Also a specimen of a species of Palm { Euterpe oleracea, 
Mart.), native of South America. Cultivated and pre¬ 
sented by Messrs. Loddiges. 
On the upper landing-place are a male and female 
Giraffe, or Camelopard, from South Africa, presented by 
W. J. Burchett, Esq.; another Giraffe, presented by the 
Trustees of the Hunterian Collection ; a young Indian 
Elephant, and a Malay Tapir. The last mentioned 
Giraffe was brought to England by Mr. Paterson, and is 
the first ever seen in this country. 
HENRY ELLIS. 
Oct. 10, 1840. 
