The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian CourtLatham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
History
The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian Court
Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Crystal Palace (Sydenham, London, England)
Facing the visitor at this point under the staircase, and in
corresponding positions to those described on the other side of the
building, are two more large sea-water tanks. Those classes of
Molluscous animals, which, we have termed, for the sake of distinction,
_inactive_, are located here. Several of these are beautiful Actineæ,
more commonly called _Sea Anemones_, from their similitude both in form
and colour to flowers. There are numerous species of these animals, and
an endless variety of beautiful colouring may be noticed on them. They
are found in every sea, but those in warm latitudes usually surpass in
beauty the denizens of more temperate or colder waters. Here also are
some Madrepores, which, however, must be spoken of more as an assemblage
of multitudes of minute animals than as one. The curious little
long-shaped shell, from which the inmate emerges like a scarlet blossom,
and into which he darts when disturbed, must also be noticed.[25]
[25] A very large fresh-water aquarium, on a comprehensive plan, is in
course of preparation, and will shortly be added to this department.
Near the carriages is a Case containing a Sun Fish, presented by Edmund
Calvert, Esq., and the rest of the specimens (which are all British)
are, like those in the two Australian Cases which stand outside the
glass doors leading to the staircase, the property of J. S. Bowerbank,
Esq., by whom they have been personally arranged to represent the
appearance of the sea-bottom. The Birds in the two Cases at the foot of
the stairs belong to Africa.
With these we complete our rapid survey of the Natural History
department of the Crystal Palace. It remains to mention that the
Ethnological section was formed under the direction of Dr. Latham; that
the Zoological Collection was formed by Mr. G. R. Waterhouse; that Mr.
Gould formed the Ornithological Collection, and that Sir Joseph Paxton
supplied the plants to illustrate the Botany. The whole of the natural
history arrangements were effected under the general direction of
Professor Edward Forbes, and the personal superintendence of Mr. Wm.
Thomson.
Turning now to the left, a few paces bring us to the first Industrial
Court on this side.
FOREIGN GLASS MANUFACTURES.
This Court has been allotted for the exhibition and sale of Bohemian and
Bavarian glass manufactures. The magnificent specimens which are ranged
around worthily exemplify the rich taste and fancy which have long been
considered a characteristic of these productions, and form a most
interesting comparison with the contents of the two succeeding Courts in
this series, where are displayed the similar productions of the English
manufactories, and, in the Ceramic Court, the richest specimens of all
ages.
BRITISH PORCELAIN MANUFACTURES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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