these animals have nearly disappeared from Europe. Here is deservedly preserved the skin of Barry, one of the dogs of St. Bernard, who is recorded to have saved the lives of 15 human beings by his sagacity. A chamois with three horns, one growing out of the nose; a specimen of a cross breed between the steinbock and domestic goat, which lived 7 years; a wild boar, of gigantic size and bristling mien, are also worth notice. In the Ornithological department are the lämmergeyer (vulture of lambs), the feathered monarch of the Alps, and inferior in size to the condor alone among birds. It breeds only on the highest mountains. In addition to the native birds of Switzerland, there are specimens of several foreign and tropical birds which have found their way into Switzerland by accident; viz., a flamingo, killed near the lake of Morat, and a pelican from Constance. The geology of Switzerland may be well studied in the very complete series of fossils collected by M. Studer and others. There are a number of beautiful specimens of all the rarest and finest minerals from St. Gothard. The illustration of Swiss Botany is equally complete. Several plans in relief of various parts of Switzerland will prove equally instructive to the student of geography and geology. | Antiquities. Obs. some Roman antiquities dug up in Switzerland; the Prie Dieu of Charles the Bold, and part of his tent hangings, captured by the Bernese at Grandson; the pointed shoes worn by the Bernese nobles in the 16th century; some dresses, &c. from the South Sea Islands, brought over by Weber, the artist, who accompanied the expedition, who was of Swiss origin. The Town Library is a good collection of 40,000 volumes, and is well stored with Swiss history. Haller, who was born at Berne, was librarian. The butter-market is held beneath this building. On the N. side of the town is the Roman Catholic Church, by the architects Deperthes of Rheims and Müller of Freiburg, of rich Gothic; lined inside with marbles. The Bundes - Rathhaus or Federal Council Hall, built 1857, near the Casino, overlooking the Aar, at the S.W. corner of the town, by far the largest and handsomest building in the town (Studer, architect), includes all the departments of the Swiss Legislature, the Diet, and the various Public Offices. The Diet (Bundesversammlung) consists of 2 bodies, the Stände-rath (44 Deputies of the Cantons) and National-rath, who meet generally in July, in 2 separate halls. The debates are open to the public. At other times the building is shown by the doorkeeper. In the upper story is the Picture Gallery. It contains some good modern paintings by Swiss and French artists, Robert, Calame, Diday, Girardet, &c. In front is a marble fountain, with statues in bronze of Berna, the Four Seasons, and 4 swans. Berne is celebrated for the number and excellence of its Charitable Institutions: they are, perhaps, more carefully attended to than any in Europe. There is a public granary in case of scarcity, two orphan-houses, an Infirmary, and an extensive Hospital, bearing the inscription "Christo in pauperibus." The new Prison and Penitentiary is an enormous building and said to be well conducted. English Church service on Sunday, at 11 and 3 o'clock, in the chapel of the Burger Spital. Since 1834 a University or high school has been established at Berne. The bear forms the armorial badge of the town, the word "bern" signifying "bear" in old German, and he is as great a favourite here as in the house of Bradwardine. Not only is his effigy on sign-posts, fountains, and buildings, but for several hundred years living specimens of the favourite were maintained by the town, until the French revolutionary army took possession of Berne, 1798, and the bears were led away captives, and deposited in the Jardin des Plantes, where one of them, the celebrated Martin, soon became the favourite of the French metropolis. But when the ancient order of things was restored at Berne, one of the first cares of the citizens was to replace and provide for their ancient pensioners. There is a foundation for the support of the bears, who, after having been reduced to one miserable animal, have been renovated, and have been removed from the Aarberg Gate to a commodious den near the Nydeck bridge. No traveller will quit Berne without paying them a visit, unless he wishes to have the omission of so important a sight thrown in his teeth whenever Berne is mentioned. The fortifications of the town are converted into Promenades, and make very agreeable walks. The banks of the Aar, seen from them, especially from the Grosse Schanze, are most picturesque; and the Alps, when visible, form a background of the utmost sublimity. They, however, as well as the city of Berne itself, are better seen from a terrace walk called the Enghe, about 20 min. walk to the N. from the Rly. Stat., outside the town gate, but not crossing the river, the favourite resort of the citizens. On the way to it, beyond the gate, is the Shootinghouse, where rifle matches take place. There is a pleasant walk by a footpath through the Enghe-wald to Reichenbach (Rte. 5), once the residence of Rudolph von Erlach. newspapers, a ball-room, &c. There is also a Theatre in the town. Booksellers.-Dalp and Co., Rue de l'Hôpital, keep a good supply of maps, views, and costumes, &c., of Switzerland. J. R. Dill, artist, has published Panoramic Views from the Eggischhorn, Sidelhorn, Görner Grat, Niesen, and Grimsel. Travellers about to ascend these mountains will do well to obtain these excellent clue-views at Berne. Post-office near (N. of) the rly. stat. History of Berne.-It was founded in 1191 by Duke Berchthold V. of Zähringen, and was so called by him because he had killed a bear on the spot, and both he and the bear are still held in great respect. It joined the Swiss confederation in 1353, having been for many years an ally. Until 1798 it held Argau, Vaud, and other districts, as tributaries, and is reported to have governed them tyrannically. The government latterly fell into the hands of a small number of aristocratic families, who lost their power in 1798, partly recovered it in 1814, and lost it again in 1831. A Von Erlach led the Swiss to the battle of Laupen in 1339, and a Von Erlach led them against the French in 1798. Until 1848 the Swiss government was carried on by Berne, Zürich, and Lucerne alternately, the governing canton for the year being called the Vorort. ROUTE 25. The most advantageous point for commanding the panorama of the Alps, reached in hr.'s walk from the stat., crossing the magnificent rly. bridge (for carriages also), and passing the Botanic Garden on the rt. bank of the Aar, is the *Schänzli, a promenade with a large café, commanding A. BERNE TO THUN AND INTERLAKEN. a very fine view, at the end of the hill nearest the railway bridge. THE BERNESE OBERLAND. B. INTERLAKEN TO LAUTERBRUNNEN— MÜRREN. C. LAUTERBRUNNEN TO GRINDELWALD -WENGERN ALP. At Tiefenau hr. N. of Berne, near the fine and lofty bridge over the Aar, is an ancient Gallic battle-field, D. GRINDELWALD whence hundreds of swords, rings, spear-heads, &c., have been collected. The Casino, a handsome building close to the Bundes-Rathhaus, contains a reading-room supplied with ΤΟ MEYRINGEN GREAT SCHEIDECK-FAULHORN. E. MEYRINGEN TO BRIENZ AND THUNGIESBACH. It was in this magnificent highland district that Byron "repeopled his mind from nature," and gathered | steamboat, rather dear;-Hôtel and many of the ideas and images which he has so exquisitely interwoven in his tragedy of Manfred,' the scene of which lies among the Bernese Alps. A traveller in the Oberland should be supplied with plenty of patience and small change. Nowhere are the arts of mendicancy better understood, or more generally practised. Numerous gates intercept the frequented foot-paths, and at the approach of a stranger children run out open it stretching forth their hands for alms. Travellers are requested by the Swiss Government, after an investigation into local mendicancy, not to give to beggars. to A. Berne to Thun.-Rail. One hour by rly., four trains a day. In fine weather the snowy Alps are in sight nearly the whole way. The scenery of the valley of the Aar is very pleasing; laid out in pasture-lands, with abundance of villages, and substantial farm-houses, with broad roofs, surrounded by neat gardens. The river itself runs at some distance on the rt., and is rarely visible. The rly. crosses the Aar, passing rt. the Botanic Garden and Schänzli, and at Wyler separates from the line to Basle by Herzogenbuchsee (Rte. 5). Münsingen Stat. The Stockhorn, with its conical peak, and the Niesen, two limestone mountains, forming, as it were, the advanced guard of the high Alps, posted on the opposite side of the lake, become conspicuous objects. The river Aar is crossed near Uttigen stat. Thun Stat., on bank of Aar. Passengers bound for Interlaken, and not wishing to stop at Thun, proceed 1 m. further (5 min.) to Scherzlingen. Terminus on the shore of the lake, where travellers step on board the steamer to Neuhaus. Thun, Fr. Thoune - Inns: H. de Bellevue, outside the town-well situated in a garden commanding a view of the Aar-belongs to MM. Knechtenhofer, who are also proprietors of the Pension Baumgarten; clean and pleasant, in a nice garden;-Freyenhof, within the town, very good, frequented by Swiss officers, and moderate, but no dinner is served before the hour of the table-d'hôte;-Krone (Couronne); Campagne and *Pension Itten, comfortable, and moderate charges; beautiful views. There is not a more picturesque town in Switzerland than Thun, 3800 Inhab.; situated about a mile from the lake, upon the river Aar, which here rushes out of it as clear as crystal. Pre-eminent above the other buildings rise a venerable church, reached by a staircase from the Bridge up the hill-sides, and a picturesque feudal castle of the Counts of Kyburg (1429). The town enjoys considerable trade, and in the 14th cent reckoned 70 noble families within its walls. It is a very curious old town, but contains no particular object especially worthy of notice. It is from its position and its beautiful environs, one of the most agreeable places of residence in Switzerland, and, being a starting-place for those who visit the Bernese highlands, it is thronged with a constant succession of travellers through the whole summer. Here is the Military College of the Swiss Confederation, for educating officers, and the principal artillery and cavalry barracks of the country. Reviews take place every summer in the vicinity. The Castle of Schadau is a large and singular Gothic castle, built (1850) by M. Rougemont, of Paris, between the Aar and the lake. The view from the Churchyard terrace" along the lake, with its girdle of Alps (the Blumlis Alp being the most conspicuous), fine glaciers, and rocks wooded to the top," is mentioned by Byron. A more extensive prospect is gained from the grounds of a pretty country house, called the Jacobskabel, about mile above the Hôtel Bellevue. The Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eigher are visible from hence. The Churchyard of Eschi, about 3 hrs, drive from Thun, on the S. side of the lake, is a charming excursion, easily made and without fatigue (see Rte. 37). M. Knechtenhofer has built a chapel for the English service in the grounds of the Bellevue. The charges for vehicles and saddlehorses throughout the Bernese Oberland have been fixed by a tariff which | is hung up in the principal inns and in the lake steamers. The voituriers are also bound to produce the tariff when called upon to do so. The general rate is 10 frs. a day for each horse, but this rate is increased or diminished when the excursion is considered to be more or less than an ordinary day's journey. Lake of Thun-Thun to Interlaken Steamboats ply between Thun (Scherzligen) and Neuhaus thrice a day to and fro. The voyage takes up 14 hr. Fare 2 fr. and 1 fr. The steamer does not take carriages; but a good carriage-road runs to Interlaken (2 posts), along the S. shore of the lake. The distance, about 15 Eng. m. It is a pleasant walk along the N. side of the lake. After Merlingen, the path rises high; it is easy to miss it in the woods. The lake is about 10 m. long.; 1775 ft. above the level of the sea. The banks of the lake near Thun are occupied with neat villas and cheerful gardens; farther on, its N. shore is precipitous. Among its scanty villages and hamlets, the most important is Oberhofen, distinguished by the square tower of its castle. It was the property of the late Count Pourtales. The S. shore is more striking. Here the two remarkable mountains, the Stockhorn, with a sharp peak projecting like a horn, or thorn, and the pyramidal mass of the Niesen, with its conical top and white Inn, stand sentinels at the entrance of the Kander and Simmenthal. The river Kander, conducted into the lake by an artificial channel formed for it in 1714, has deposited around its mouth, within less than a century and a half, a delta or sand-bank of several hundred acres. The progress and extent of this recent formation, so interesting to geologists, have been ably investigated by Sir C. Lyell. [Ascent of the Niesen. An interesting excursion may be made from Thun to the summit of the Niesen, which, from its position, commands one of the finest panoramic views of the Bernese Alps. A carriage-road of 7 m, conducts from Thun across the entrance of the Simmenthal to Wimmis, at the foot of the mountain. (Diligence to Brodhusi, 14 m. short of Wimmis.) The ascent from Wimmis to the summit will take about 4 hrs.; the descent 3 hrs. The charge for a horse from Wimmis to the summit and down again on the same day is 15 fr. At 5 min. walk from the summit is a wooden hotel, making up 24 beds. It may be recommended for its cleanliness, though not for its cookery. The near view from the summit (7763 Eng. ft.) embraces the snowy mountains of the Oberland from the Altels and Rinderhorn on the W. to the Wetterhorn on the E.-the finest object being the Blümlis Alp, and the range extending from thence to the Jungfrau. The more distant view comprises the summit of Mont Blanc and the Dent du Midi; Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn are either partially or totally hidden behind the peaks of the Oberland. Directly downwards the eye rests on the two lakes of Thun and Brienz, on the town of Thun, and the villages of Brienz and Interlaken. A panoramic view has been published by Dill, and is hung up in the inn.] S. Spietz. At the foot of the Niesen, on a projecting tongue of land, stands the picturesque castle, founded, according to tradition, by Attila (?), and belonging to the family of Erlach. At Spietzwyler there is a neat Inn. N. When about two-thirds over the lake, a projecting promontory of precipitous rock, called the Nase, is passed, and a fine view is obtained of the Eigher and Mönch, which fill up the extremity of the lake with the white mass of their snow. To the rt. of them appears the Jungfrau. In front of the Nase the lake is |