Genre:

Essay, Drollery, Serial

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Menageries, Natural History, Breeding, Amusement, Class

Institutions mentioned:

Jardin des Plantes, Paris

    Laments that London's 'poorest classes' have 'limited means of studying natural history' owing to the difficulty of access to animals at the Surrey Zoological Gardens (204). Describes the origins of the menagerie near the National Gallery. Warns that unless visitors to the menagerie are 'on the alert' they are likely to incur expenses by the 'solicitations of the showman'. Believes the 'inmates of the menagerie are rather more remarkable for harmony than rarity, chiefly consisting of cats, pigeons, mice, owls, rabbits, rats, and small birds'. Notes that the proprietor thinks he can, by 'intermingling the breed', produce flying cats and horses, and that domestic life could be improved by following the example of this harmonic menagerie. (205)