circumference of which is nearly 900 feet, is enclosed by stone balustrades, and is extended by eight semicircular bastions. There are four flights of granite steps, 24 feet wide, which lead up to this elevated circular walk, from the natural level of the ground.

Still continuing on the broad 96 feet walk, the visitor approaches the water temples, one of which is placed upon each side of the walk. These temples or towers are octagonal in shape, and constructed of hollow iron columns and girders, something similar to those used in the Palace. The water is forced up the columns, on to the roof, whence it will flow through a longitudinal slit in a pipe, in the form of a graceful and transparent crystal curtain. Surrounded by these watery draperies, there will be seen in the centre a charming group of the "Three Graces." On the top of each of the towers is a Mercury." The water flowing from each of these towers falls into a continuous step-like cascade, on each side of the central walk. The head of these cascades is, in form, a square of 72 feet, with semicircular extensions from each side of 18 feet radius. The outfall of the water is 48 feet wide. There are twelve steps over which the water falls, and these are extended a distance of 8 feet upon each side of the general basin. The entire length of the cascade is 545 feet, and at the end of each is a large iron tank supported on arches of masonry, which receives the flowing water. Overflowing these tanks, the water falls in broad translucent sheets into large basins. The visitor, in descending a flight of handsome granite steps, passes into the tunnels upon which the tanks are placed; and through the open arches he may see the water rushing down before him.

On the right and left of the spectator, are now seen immense basins stretching away for nearly 800 feet from the central walk. The basins immediately in front of the cascades, and which receive the water from them, are 220 feet broad, with a large semicircular extension on the outer side. At right angles from these basins, the water passes in a stream 120 feet broad, and 125 feet in length, into the largest basins on the ground. They are circular in form, and of a diameter of not less than 360 feet. On the eastern and western sides of these immense basins, is a central projection of 98 feet by 24, with an extension of eight feet radius; and upon each side of this central projection, are smaller extensions of 56 feet, formed on the same model as the larger one. On the south side of one, and the north side of the other circular basin, a large basin is extended in the form of a parallelogram of 165 feet by 120 feet, with three semicircular extensions.in the east and west sides at equal distances, and a large one at the south end, of the same radius as that at the foot of the cascades. From these latter basins, the waste water is conveyed by pipes into the large tidal basin in which the geological islands are placed. The appearance of these large basins, with the ground rising in grassy slopes all round them like a vast amphitheatre; with the parallel circular walks round each lake; the sun shining on the vast

expanse of water; the gigantic outlines of the Crystal Palace on the summit of the hill; the gentle undulations of the other portions of the ground; the rich foliage of the trees; the fairylike Mount of Roses; the noble steps and terraces seen from this spot, is most enchanting; and while the fatigued visitor recruits his exhausted powers on the inviting turf, we will endeavour to explain the past and present arrangements for the supply of the basins and fountains with water.

That there are no fountains playing in these large basins is a matter of great regret, as it is impossible from their present condition to judge of the appearance which the grounds and arrangement of the basins would present if supplied with its system of hydraulic works. For some of the basins, the designs for the fountains are not even yet decided upon, and the difficulty of obtaining good and suitable designs for the purpose, has been not the least of the many obstacles interposed in the way of the completion of the works. At a very early period, a sum of one thousand pounds was set aside for premiums to be awarded to artists who should produce suitable designs. These designs were not left open to general competition, but a few artists were selected and required to send in drawings, for which they would be paid. The designs of the fountains were to be emblematic of commerce and the peaceful and industrial arts. In due course, the directors received the models and drawings, many of which showed considerable taste, while others were totally unsuited for displays of water, and some were impracticable, and impossible of execution. There were fountains of ancient art, and modern art, ancient poetry and modern poetry, ancient philosophy and modern philosophy:-they were decorated with statues of men eminent in olden and more recent times, in the several branches of art, poetry, and philosophy. Then, there were fountains sacred to agriculture and to commerce; to Flora and to the Graces; to animal life, and vegetable life; to all nations and to all climes. Among the boldest of these designs was one contributed by a famous French artist. It was intended to be a colossal glass globe of seventy feet in diameter, which was to occupy the centre of one of the basins, and the interior of which was to be fitted with walks and galleries. The globe was surmounted by a metal figure of Britannia, 200 feet in height, the head of which would be some feet higher than the top of the great transept of the Crystal Palace. The metal of which the figure was to be constructed was of polished zinc; the form was that of Minerva, and in the top of her helmet was to be placed a bright star formed by an electric light, and which could be distinctly seen for several miles round London. Immense coloured glass banners, bearing the devices of the flags of every nation, were to be grouped around the feet of Britannia, while jets of water, flying in every possible and impossible direction, crossing and re-crossing each other in the most admired disorder, were to play over the head and around the body of this glistening and light-shedding

Minerva. It is hardly necessary to say that the latter design was not accepted, nor were any of the others; and it was finally decided out of the materials afforded to construct some designs which would be considered at once suitable and practicable.

As the fountains are not prepared to play, it is immaterial that he means are not yet provided for supplying them with water. Two tall towers, more than 200 feet in height, were, however, constructed at each end of the building, upon the top of each of which was placed a tank capable of containing 800 tons of water. The water flowing from these lofty reservoirs would have given to the fountains in the lower part of the ground a jet of water of nearly 200 feet in height. The mode in which these towers was constructed was considered, however, by Mr. Brunel, and other engineers consulted on the subject, as one which would not safely stand against the vast amount of vibration which must necessarily take place from pumping the water up to the top, and the rapid descent of the fluid on its way to the basins. Some plans were proposed for giving additional strength and security to the towers, but as the carrying out of these involved an immense outlay, which would be attended with but uncertain results, it was considered advisable at once to pull them down, and reconstruct new ones of still larger dimensions, and of a more substantial and secure character. These towers having been taken down, new ones are now in course of erection, nearly upon the site of the former structures. They will be 250 feet in height; and in form twelve-sided figures, of a uniform diameter of 40 feet, and the tanks on the top will be made to hold 1,200 tons of water. A perpendicular brick chimney-shaft from the engine-house will run up the centre, and the towers will be constructed of iron columns and girders, on the same principle as that adopted in the building itself. Although these alterations will involve an additional outlay of 30,000l., yet an increase of 30 feet in the height of the water thrown by the largest fountains will be obtained, and the time during which they will be able to play will be extended by nearly twenty minutes beyond that which would have been possible with the towers first constructed.

The water for the supply of these basins is obtained from an Artesian well, which is situated about 100 yards from the lower end of the cascades. This well has been sunk to a depth of nearly 500 feet; and the process of boring is still continued. An engine-house is constructed close by the side of the well, which is fitted with four fine steam-engines. Two of these engines, of 20 horse power each, are employed for lifting the water out of the well; and two others, of 30 horse power, are required to force the water so raised a distance of about 500 yards into a large irregularly shaped basin of 2 acres in area. Near this basin, which is called the intermediate one, are four large and powerful engines of 40 horse power, which force the water up to the large reservoir at the north end of the building near the Queen's

entrance. This reservoir is about 370 feet square, 12 feet deep, and contains seventeen millions of gallons of water. The water has not yet done its work, and two more engines built close to the wings of the building are required to drive the water from this last reservoir up to the tanks on the top of the wings, and those which will ultimately be placed on the top of the lofty water towers. When in full work, there will, therefore, be required for the water-works the employment of ten steam-engines of an aggregate of 320 horse power.

The

We will now resume our walk along the side of the northern basin, and following the rising ground we shall shortly find ourselves beneath the shade of a noble avenue of trees, and luxuriating upon the elastic turf of an extensive lawn. ground here follows the natural level of the land, and presents an admirable example of that style of lawn and landscape scenery which are so characteristic of the grounds around some of our fine old English mansions. The intermediate reservoir on the right as the traveller ascends, forms a charming feature in this portion of the grounds. Near this reservoir, walks branch off to the let, which lead into grounds laid out in the most tasteful and artistic manner. A mound rising up to some height, the top of which is reached by six serpentine paths, affords an admirable point from which to obtain a view of the grounds, and the foot of the sloping, sheltered portion of the ground, is thickly planted with the choicest rhododendrons of all shades of blossom. Passing from these and many other gracefully formed beds, the visitor ascends the steps which lead to the large circular basin on the central walk, and descending on the opposite side, proceeds by winding paths to the Rosarium, or Mount of Roses, corresponding in its general ground plan with the raised mound on the other side of the walk already visited.

The Rosarium, or Mount of Roses, is one of the happiest ideas of Sir Joseph Paxton. It is a circular colonnade situated on an elevated mound, and is approached by six winding paths which meet in an inner circle 48 feet in diameter, within a colonnade formed of 120 columns. Around the circle are twelve arches 31 feet in height and 16 in width. One of the arches spans each of the walks leading into the promenade, and there is one arch between every two walks. The spaces between the twelve arches are filled up with smaller arches, the columns supporting which are 8 feet apart. There is a delightful walk 16 feet in width, round the entire colonnade. The space between the walks which radiate towards the centre, covered with a delicious velvet of turf, will tempt the weary feet, and seats solicit the fatigued traveller to rest himself within the fairy-like enclosure; while, if a gentle shower should pay its unexpected tribute, the fair worshipper in Flora's bower will find shelter provided for her beneath the corrugated iron roofs of the circular arches, round the lattice-work of which, roses climb and blow, and shed their delicious fragrance.

Leaving this charming spot, and the pleasing parterres by which it is surrounded, we will pass round the side of the large southern basin, descend the steps at the end of the cascades, and proceed to the elevated ground, from the top of which a view is afforded of the basins, and of the vast tidal lake in which are the geological islands and the extinct animals. The first sight of these monsters will not be found so alarming as some persons may suppose, for, although they are of vast and gigantic dimensions, there is nothing disproportionate, unnatural, or repulsive, in their appear

ance.

THE GEOLOGICAL ISLANDS, AND THEIR ANTEDILUVIAN INHABITANTS.

In

HITHERTO, attention has been directed to the productions of ancient and modern art, and the results of the industrial skill of the present time. We now pass on to inspect the records of ages, in comparison with which the oldest monuments of Egypt or Assyria, appear in the freshness of youth itself. From the classic temples which soared above the mountains of Greece, or crowned the hills of Rome-the lofty Gothic towers which in northern climes pierced the clouds with their delicate traceries-the works of art which decorate the palaces and mansions of the great and noble-the flowers and shrubs, and grassy slopes, which adorn the face of the earth-and the animals and tribes of man which "live, move, and have their being' among them-we proceed in a downward path to traverse regions where the eye will rest upon representations of forms and creations which existed unaided, and unseen, by the sons of men. the journey which the visitor now takes, his first step will land him in realms far beyond the limits of recorded time, and below the dust of any of the representatives of the human race; he will find himself surrounded by the relics of a time when passing seasons and fleeting years marked not the lapse of duration; but when those distant epochs were recorded by the successive formations and extinctions of ancient worlds, with their rank vegetation, and gigantic forms of animal existence. To attempt to produce, for the instruction of the world, representations of those extinct species which existed in our globe thousands of ages before the birth of man, was a proceeding not less bold than novel on the part of the Directors of the Crystal Palace. Scientific men who had devoted a long life to the accumulation and study of fossil remains, who had put together the skeletons of these gigantic