GALLERY OF MINERALS AND FOSSILS, CALLED THE "NORTH GALLERY." SITUATED in the upper story of the Building, the North Gallery is entered either from the lobby at the north end of the Gallery of Antiquities, or from the lobby at the corresponding end of the Bird Gallery. The rooms into which the North Gallery is divided are numbered I. to VI., and the numbers will be found over the doorways. The floor of the Gallery is occupied by Table Cases, which, in the Rooms I. to IV., contain the collection of Minerals; and, in Rooms V. and VI., are devoted to the fossil remains of Invertebrate Animals. Wall Cases throughout the Gallery are occupied by— FOSSILS. The The Fossil remains are arranged partly in Zoological order and partly in Geological sequence; thus, the species of the natural families, such, for example, as the Ammonitida (shells allied to the Pearly Nautilus), and Terebratulida (Lamp-shells), are grouped together; but each family commences with the most recent examples of the group and terminates with those of the older rocks. The series of remains of Vertebrata, or animals with a back-bone, commences with the Fishes in Room II., is continued, on the walls facing the windows, to the last Room (No. VI.), and there returns in the Wall Cases near the windows, to terminate in Room II. Some of the smaller objects belonging to this series will be found in the Table Cases under the windows. In the Lobby, between the Bird Gallery and the Gallery of Minerals and Fossils, is a restored model of the shell of an extinct Fossil Tortoise, of gigantic size, from the Siwalik Hills, in India. Portions of the shell and of other parts of the skeleton of several different individuals of this species of Tortoise (Colossochelys atlas), are deposited in Case 2 of Room III., and it is of casts from some of these portions that the restored model is, in a great measure, composed. ROOM I. FOSSIL PLANTS.-Divisions A. & B. of Case 1 contain Vegetable impressions called Alga, from their resemblance to Sea-weeds. They are found in rocks of all ages, and are almost the only Fossils met with in the very oldest strata. Division C. of the same case contains the Fossil Ferns, of the genus Sphenopteris, obtained from the Shale beds overlaying the coals. Case 2. Divisions A. to F. contain Ferns of the Coal-measures belonging to the genera Neuropteris, Cyclopteris, Pecopteris, and Alethopteris; together with certain species which are peculiar to the Coalshales of India and Australia (Glossopteris). In Case 3, are the Ferns peculiar to the Permian, Trias, and Lias formations, these are in division A.; where will also be found sections of silicified stems of Tree-ferns from Bohemia. In divisions B. and C. are arranged the Ferns of the Oolitic Shales of Scarborough, in Yorkshire; and, in division D. are those of the Green-sand and Wealden formations. Divisions E. and F. contain the Coal-plants called Calamites: they have jointed stems, and leaves in whorls, resembling those of the recent "Mare's-tail" (Equisetum). The Asterophyllites are also placed here, being now regarded as the fruit and foliage of the Calamites. Case 4 contains the stems of Coal-plants, called Lepidodendron, from their scaly bark, allied to the recent Club-mosses (Lycopodiacea); but they attained the size of forest-trees. Examples of the foliage and fruit of these plants, contained in nodules of clay-ironstone, are placed in the next Case (5, A. B.). Case 5. In this case are arranged portions of the trunks of Fossiltrees, with regular furrows and impressions, called Sigillariæ, also belonging to the Lycopodiacea. They are found in great numbers in most coal-fields, frequently retaining the erect position in which they grew. The Fossils named Stigmaria, in this Case, and on the top of Case 4, are the roots of the Sigillaria. They occur in the fire-clay, beneath seams of coal. The example over the Gallery door originally measured 26 feet in length. Over Case 5 are placed examples of the opalized trunks of a species of Banksia from Tasmania. Case 6 contains, 1. Fossil Plants of the Kentish-Rag and Wealden strata, including a plant related to the Dragon-tree of Teneriffe, Dracana Benstedi, from the Iguanodon Quarry at Maidstone. 2. Silicified stems of Palms from the West Indies. 3. Palm-leaves and palmlike Fruits (Nipadites), from Sheppey, the wood of which was bored by a species of ship-worm (Teredina) now extinct. 4. Leaves of Cycadean plants from Scarborough, &c. 5. Fossil Fir-cones and Pine-wood, the former from the cliffs on the coast of Norfolk, belonging to the Spruce Fir, a species which had become extinct in Britain, and has been reintroduced in modern times. Over Case 6 are placed the silicified stems of Mantellia, plants related to the recent Cycas, and called "petrified erows' nests" by the Portland quarrymen. The Table Case under the window contains leaves of Dicotyledonous Plants, from the Miocene "Brown-Coal" of Germany; the Tertiary Limestone of Eningen., Greenland, &c. The slabs of Sandstone on the North Wall of this Room, on the left, with the tracks of an unknown animal, called Cheirotherium, probably amphibious, with large hind feet, like some Batrachians, are from the quarries of Hildburghausen, in Saxony. On the right hand are placed slabs also supposed to be of the New Red Sandstone formation, with equally remarkable impressions of various dimensions, called Ornithichnites, being regarded as the foot-marks of birds. They occur in the Sandstone beds near Greenfield, Massachusetts, at Turner's Falls, in the Connecticut River. Other slabs from the same locality, and also from Cheshire and Staffordshire, covered with reptilian footprints, are placed on Wall Cases 1 and 11 of Room III., and in the third window recess of Room II. On the North Wall of Room I. are Plant remains from Solenhofen, in Bavaria. ROOM II. The classification of the Fossil Fishes, arranged in this room, is chiefly in accordance with that proposed by M. Agassiz, in his great work, entitled "Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles," with some modifications founded upon the later systems proposed by Professors Müller and Owen. The series commences with the Placoid Fishes, or those of the Shark and Ray tribes, in which the skin is protected by rounded (often star-shaped) and very hard scales, having frequently a raised point, and sometimes a thorn-like prickle in the centre, as may be scen in the scales of the Thornback and some other fishes of the Skate tribe. The upper division of the tail is prolonged beyond the lower lobe; and is supported by a continuation of the vertebral column-a form of tail which is termed Heterocercal, and which is most commonly found in all the orders of fishes of the middle and older Geological formations; but which (if we except the Sharks and Rays) is rarely met with in the existing species of fishes, in which the "homocercal" tail, or that with the two lobes equal, prevails. The skeleton of the Placoids being more or less gristly or cartilaginous, and in the same degree perishable and incapable of fossilization, the remains of those fishes consist chiefly of the defensive spines, scales, and teeth; these objects, being mostly of small size, will be found in the Cases under the windows, and in Case 7 at the end of the room. The Fishes called Ganoids have derived their name, and the character of their order, from the lustre of their very hard, enamelled scales; and it is by these parts that they are chiefly represented in the fossil state. The most common form of scale in this order is the rhomboidal, in a few it is round; but the pattern of the external markings varies in almost every species. GANOID FISHES range from the newest Silurian strata upwards; are most abundant in the lower Oolitic formations, diminish in the cre taceous beds, and are reduced to very few genera existing at the present time. The order is commenced in Wall Case No. 1, by the Cephalaspides, a family peculiar to the Devonian period. The species of which it is composed were fishes in which the body was protected by large bony plates, was convex above, and flat beneath; the pectoral fins were represented by large bony appendages, situated close behind the head; and the tail was tolerably long, tapering, and furnished with small scales. The second family of the order, the Calacanthi, so called from the spines of their fins being hollow, occupy the compartments 3 to 5 of the same Wall Case. In the 6th compartment, and lower division of the 7th, are arranged the Dipterines, including fishes of the Old Red Sandstone and Coal formations, having the body protected by rhomboidal scales, and provided with two back fins, as well as two anal fins. The specimens exhibited are chiefly from Scotland. In the 8th compartment are arranged the Acanthodians. The fishes of this family are characterized by the minuteness of their scales and having each fin armed with a strong bony spine. They are mostly from the Devonian of Scotland. The family of the Sauroids (see compartments 8 to 13), contains fishes which exhibit both the uneven-lobed and the even-lobed structure of tail, and is divided accordingly into two minor groups: the Sauroids have conical teeth mixed with minute prickly teeth. The scales vary considerably in form. This family presents living examples in the Bony Pikes (Lepidosteus) of the rivers and lakes of North America, and in the Bichirs (Polypterus) of the Nile. The Sauroid family is represented by numerous extinct species ranging through nearly all geological strata down to the Devonian. The Ganoid family called "Lepidoids" (see compartments 14 to 20) have the same rhomboidal scales as the Bony Pikes, but in generaĺ form they are shorter and have a greater vertical diameter; the teeth are of one kind only, and of a more or less conical form. The last family of the fishes with ganoid scales is the Pycnodonts, of which all the principal genera will be found in compartments 21 and 22. Like the members of the preceding group, these fishes have a short, high, and compressed form. Their teeth are usually large, rounded, and with low crowns admirably fitted for crushing shell-fish. Many of the species are from the Jurassic (or Oolitic) rocks; some are from the Chalk, and a few extend into the Tertiary formations, but there are no known living species. In the preceding two great divisions of Fishes many of the families of which they are composed are extinct, and a very large proportion of the species is confined to the geological strata beneath the Chalk, whilst those which now come under consideration belong entirely to the Chalk and Tertiary formations, and the families have living representatives. They form two important sections-the Ctenoids and the Cycloids. The Ctenoids, which are distinguished by their scales being serrated, or finely notched at the free edge, are arranged in compartments 23 to 26: the common Perch is a good example of this group. The Cycloids occupy the compartments 27 to 36. Their scales have the edges smooth. The Fishes of the Mackerel tribe (Scomberida), of the Carp tribe (Cyprinida), of the Pikes (Esocida), and the Herrings (Clupeidae), may be noticed as forming the more important families of this division. ROOM III. Excepting the two Cases 7 and 11, the whole of the Wall Cases in this room are devoted to Reptilian remains; and amongst them may be first noticed the Dinosauria, which group contains the largest terrestrial species, such as the Iguanodon and Megalosaurus. In the Middle Case (No. 9), on the north side of the room, are arranged the remains of the gigantic Iguanodon: firstly, and in the centre, the large slab of Kentish rag from Mr. Bensted's quarry near Maidstone, containing a great portion of the skeleton of a young individual; to the right of this will be found portions of the skull and lower jaw, and the teeth of different specimens of the same species; and to the left, extending to Case 8, are nearly all the more characteristic parts of the skeletons of various Iguanodons, chiefly from the Wealden formation at Tilgate, and in the Isle of Wight. These specimens are mostly from the collection of the late Dr. Mantell. On the lower shelves to the right of the centre case containing the Iguanodon will also be found the almost entire remains of another land reptile called Scelidosaurus, from the Lias of Charmouth, Dorset. The remainder of the Case to the left (No. 8) is occupied by the remains of other gigantic reptiles from the Wealden and upper Oolitic formations, including the Megalosaurus and Cetiosaurus. A humerus, nearly five feet in length, of the last-named reptile (Cetiosaurus) from the Kimmeridge Clay of Weymouth, Dorset, has just been added to this Case. On the right of the centre Case No. 10, in the two first compartments, will be found the remains of the Hylaosaurus, including the large block from Tilgate Forest, discovered by Dr. Mantell, which contains a considerable series of vertebræ, dermal spines, and other parts of this singular reptile. The dermal spines and other remains of the Polacanthus, a new Wealden reptile from the Isle of Wight, are arranged in Case 9; and on the top of the same Case is a new species of Plesiosaurus (P. laticeps, Owen), which has recently been added to the collection. The remainder of this Case is occupied by the fossil Crocodiles. Among the specimens may be noticed the slender-snouted Crocodilians, in which the vertebræ are bi-concave, including the Teleosaurus® Chapmanni, from the Lias of Whitby, and other Teleosauri from the Lias and Oolites of Germany and France. Among the Crocodilians with the ordinary form of vertebræ, the body, or central part, being concave in front and convex behind, attention may be directed' to the skull of the Crocodilus Toliapicus, mentioned by Cuvier as the "Crocodile de Sheppey," and a smaller Crocodile skull, which, like the last, is from the London Clay of Sheppey, and received the name of Crocodilus Spenceri from Dr. Buckland. The most gigantic Crocodilian remains hitherto found are those from the Siwalik Hills, they include D |