This splendid collection has been got together by presents, purchase, breeding, and exchanges. Out of the 14,205 specimens, however, which have been in the possession of the society, scarcely a tithe were bought. The Queen, especially, has been most generous in her presents, and the stream of barbaric offerings in the shape of lions, tigers, leopards, &c., which is continually flowing from tropical princes to the fair Chief of the nation, is poured into these gardens. Her Majesty evidently pays no heed to the superstition once common among the people, that a dynasty was only safe as long as the lions flourished in the royal fortress. In fact, the gardens are a convenience to our gracious monarch as well as to her subjects; for wild animals are awkward things to have in one's back premises. Neither must we overlook the reproduction which has taken place in the gardens; to such an extent, indeed, has the stock increased, that sales to a large amount are annually made. The system of exchanges which exists between the various British and continental societies helps to supply the garden with deficient specimens in place of duplicates. Very rare, and consequently expensive animals, are generally purchased. Thus, the first rhinoceros cost 1,000_l._; the four giraffes 700_l._, and their carriage an additional 700_l._ The elephant and calf were bought in 1851 for 800_l._; and the hippopotamus, although a gift, was not brought home and housed at less than 1,000_l._--a sum which he more than realized in the famous Exhibition season, when the receipts were 10,000_l._ above the previous year. The lion Albert was purchased for 140_l._; a tiger in 1852 for 200_l._ The value of some of the smaller birds will appear, however, more startling: thus, the pair of black-necked swans were purchased for 80_l._ (they are now to be seen in the three-island pond); a pair of crowned pigeons and two maleos, 60_l._; a pair of Victoria pigeons, 35_l._; four mandarin ducks, 70_l._ Most of these rare birds (now in the great aviary) came from the Knowsley collection, at the sale of which, in 1851, purchases were made to the extent of 985_l._ It would be impossible from these prices, however, to judge of the present value of the animals. Take the rhinoceros, for example: the first specimen cost 1,000_l._; the second, quite as fine a brute, only 350_l._ Lions range again from 40_l._ to 180_l._, and tigers from 40_l._ to 200_l._ The price is generally ruled by the state of the wild-beast market, and by the intrinsic rarity of the creature. A first appearance in Europe, of course, is likely to draw, and is therefore at the top price; but it is wonderful how demand produces supply. Let any rare animal bring a crowd to the gardens, and in a twelvemonth numbers of his brethren will be generally in the market. The ignorance displayed by some persons as to the value of well-known objects is something marvellous. We have already spoken of the sea captain who