114 THE ATLANTIC.
been reproduced by the sculptor, and the nautilus
and the goniatite of tlie elder times, and arabesques
and horns of plenty, and the chuhhy faces of Christian
cherubs, lileud in tlie creation of the old architect
like truth and fiction in the dream of a poet.
Behind the cloisters are the rooms of the seminary,
and the cloisters are hung with neatly-designed programmes
of tlie courses of study, and lists of the
successful candidates for honours at various examinations.
W e Avere invited to see the school, hut Ave
declined. Tlie pupils Avere at dinner, and we lingered
about the silent quadrangle reluctant to leave it—it
Avas so SAveet and still. I am surprised that we do
not hear more of the monastery and church of Santa
Maria of Belem, for our little party, all of Avlioin had
already seen many things in all parts of the Avorld,
agreed that it Avas unusually pleasing.
There are many things in Lisbon to interest ‘ philosophers
’ as our naval friends call us,—not I fear
from the proper feeling of respect, hut rather with
good-natured indulgence, because we are fond of talking
vaguely ahout ‘ evolution,’ and otheinvise holding
on to loose ropes ; and because our education lias heen
sadly neglected in the matter of cringles and toggles
and grummets, and other implements hy means of
Avhicli England holds her place among the nations.
The buildings of a new Polytechnic School had
heen just completed at tlie time of our Ausit. The
institution is of imposing dimensions, built in the
form of a holloAv square, vith a quadrangular garden
in the centre. It contains lecture-rooms, a consulting
library, spacious and aa'c I I -lighted chemical
and physical lahoratories, and galleries for museum
purposes. The collections in mineralogy and palaeontology
are on the ground floor, and the zoological
museum, under the able superintendence of Professor
Barhoza du Bocage, is lodged in four fine
galleries on the upper story, one of them devoted entirely
to the African fauna in AAdiich the museum is
particularly rich.
Tahle-cases containing a fine collection of slieils
are x^l^ced along the centre of the rooms, and upright
cases filled Avith stuffed mammals and birds
and variously preserved reptiles and fishes are ranged
along the Avails. The collection of mammalia is ricli
in insectívora,—moles, shrcAA^s, and the like; and
among the scarcer mammals are two manatees, and
good examples of the Aye-Aye, and of the singular
little African otter-like animal Potamogale velox.
The collection of birds is particularly good. Tlie
specimens are Avell stuffed and mounted, and Avell
arranged. This collection belongs to tlie present
King, and Avas chiefly brought together hy him and
his brother. It contains many rarities ; Jfidunculus
slrigirodris, a good set of birds of paradise including
Semiopteryx, and a fine specimen of the great auk,
Alca impennis, in excellent plumage and preservation,
given to King Luiz hy his hrotlier-in-laAV the King
of Italy. The King of Portugal is very fond of
natural history, and has a good general knoAAdedge
of it. lie did us the honour to Ausit the ship Avhen
Ave Avere at Lisbon, and expressed liimself gi’eatly interested
in the expedition.
The Botanic Garden is near the Palace of the
Ajuda. It seems to have heen very fine at one time,
for there is a good range of glass, and the handsome
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