DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1311#0042
32 THE GREAT EXHIBITION
purposes, and military plumes. Goose-down is manufactured to a considerable extent
in Ireland, by being sewed on textile fabrics. The article has been patronised and sold
in England extensively, for the benefit of the poor Irishwomen, by whom it is made up.
The price, compared with the true swan's-down, is very moderate. Being sewed upon
cloth, it can be washed; on the contrary, swan's-down must be placed in the hands of
the furrier when required to be cleaned.
A specimen of the ornithorhyncus, or duck-billed platypus, a native of Australia—one
of the most extraordinary animals in nature—was exhibited by Mr. Ellis, of Pore-street.
The skin is very much like that of the otter, and seldom exceeds twelve inches in length;
the supply is very limited. The animal is a sort of connecting link between the bird and
the beast—having the claw and body of the latter, and the bill and web foot of the
duck. The male is furnished with two powerful spurs on each hind leg, similar to
the game cock. The female lays eggs, which she hatches, and then suckles her young
brood—which extraordinary fact was not generally credited till, some years since, pre-
served specimens of the creature were brought to this country, and submitted to the late
Sir H. Halford, who dissected them, and delivered a lecture thereon at the College of
Physicians, when this circumstance was first made public. Many attempts have been
made to bring them to this country alive, but without success. In the Cape of Good
Hope department a tippet was shown made from the feathers of various Cape birds. Prom
Van Diemen's Land some feathers from the mutton bird, or sooty petrel {puffinus brevi-
caudus) were shown. They are well adapted, and are much used in the colony, for
pillows, bolsters, and mattresses. From the immense numbers of these birds which resort
to the islands in Bass's Straits, and the profusion of feathers with which they are clothed,
there would be no difficulty in obtaining the latter in any quantity that might be required.
"When better known in this country, it is not unlikely that they will prove a profitable
article of export from the colony. In the foreign department the display of feathers
was very limited. Those more particularly worthy of notice were two splendid heron
plumes, contributed by MM. Perrot, Petit, and Co., of Paris, of the value of 3,000f.
each, and some very fine bird of Paradise feathers. There were also some fine specimens,
adapted for ornaments for the mantel-piece, for head-dresses, and screens, exhibited by
M. L'Huillier and M. Lodde, of Paris.
CHAPTER Y.
SCULPTURE—continued.
HONOUEABLE MENTION: EEHNES, BISSEN, BONASSTEUX, CLESSTNGEB, COKDIEE, COSTOLI, EBESCIA,
NENCINI, GEEES, JAQUET, LEEB, MAECHESI, MILLER, PASCHAL, SANGIOBGIO, STEPHENS, THEED,
THOBNYCEOET, WAGNEB, WEEKS—COLOSSAL STATUE OE THE QUEEN—STATUE OE THE DUJO!
OE WELLINGTON—MAEQUESS OE WELLESLEY—VICTOET, BY EANCE—WOODINGTON's GIEL AT
TnE SPRING----GROUP OE MILTON AND HIS BAUGHTEES, BT LEGEEW—GEOUP OE SCIENCE
UNTEILING IGNOEANCE AND PEEJUDICE, ET THOMAS—SAMSON BUESTING HIS BONES, BY
LEGEEW, ETC., ETC.
Having in our last chapter on sculpture, described the productions of those artists who
received, from the award of the jury, council and prize medals, we now propose to devote
our attention to the examination of the works of such as received the gratifying dis-
tinction of " Honorary Mention."
purposes, and military plumes. Goose-down is manufactured to a considerable extent
in Ireland, by being sewed on textile fabrics. The article has been patronised and sold
in England extensively, for the benefit of the poor Irishwomen, by whom it is made up.
The price, compared with the true swan's-down, is very moderate. Being sewed upon
cloth, it can be washed; on the contrary, swan's-down must be placed in the hands of
the furrier when required to be cleaned.
A specimen of the ornithorhyncus, or duck-billed platypus, a native of Australia—one
of the most extraordinary animals in nature—was exhibited by Mr. Ellis, of Pore-street.
The skin is very much like that of the otter, and seldom exceeds twelve inches in length;
the supply is very limited. The animal is a sort of connecting link between the bird and
the beast—having the claw and body of the latter, and the bill and web foot of the
duck. The male is furnished with two powerful spurs on each hind leg, similar to
the game cock. The female lays eggs, which she hatches, and then suckles her young
brood—which extraordinary fact was not generally credited till, some years since, pre-
served specimens of the creature were brought to this country, and submitted to the late
Sir H. Halford, who dissected them, and delivered a lecture thereon at the College of
Physicians, when this circumstance was first made public. Many attempts have been
made to bring them to this country alive, but without success. In the Cape of Good
Hope department a tippet was shown made from the feathers of various Cape birds. Prom
Van Diemen's Land some feathers from the mutton bird, or sooty petrel {puffinus brevi-
caudus) were shown. They are well adapted, and are much used in the colony, for
pillows, bolsters, and mattresses. From the immense numbers of these birds which resort
to the islands in Bass's Straits, and the profusion of feathers with which they are clothed,
there would be no difficulty in obtaining the latter in any quantity that might be required.
"When better known in this country, it is not unlikely that they will prove a profitable
article of export from the colony. In the foreign department the display of feathers
was very limited. Those more particularly worthy of notice were two splendid heron
plumes, contributed by MM. Perrot, Petit, and Co., of Paris, of the value of 3,000f.
each, and some very fine bird of Paradise feathers. There were also some fine specimens,
adapted for ornaments for the mantel-piece, for head-dresses, and screens, exhibited by
M. L'Huillier and M. Lodde, of Paris.
CHAPTER Y.
SCULPTURE—continued.
HONOUEABLE MENTION: EEHNES, BISSEN, BONASSTEUX, CLESSTNGEB, COKDIEE, COSTOLI, EBESCIA,
NENCINI, GEEES, JAQUET, LEEB, MAECHESI, MILLER, PASCHAL, SANGIOBGIO, STEPHENS, THEED,
THOBNYCEOET, WAGNEB, WEEKS—COLOSSAL STATUE OE THE QUEEN—STATUE OE THE DUJO!
OE WELLINGTON—MAEQUESS OE WELLESLEY—VICTOET, BY EANCE—WOODINGTON's GIEL AT
TnE SPRING----GROUP OE MILTON AND HIS BAUGHTEES, BT LEGEEW—GEOUP OE SCIENCE
UNTEILING IGNOEANCE AND PEEJUDICE, ET THOMAS—SAMSON BUESTING HIS BONES, BY
LEGEEW, ETC., ETC.
Having in our last chapter on sculpture, described the productions of those artists who
received, from the award of the jury, council and prize medals, we now propose to devote
our attention to the examination of the works of such as received the gratifying dis-
tinction of " Honorary Mention."