as Baird's Tapir of Central America; the African Swine, with warts on the head, and formidable tusks; the Babyrussa, with its recurved horn-like tusks; the social South American Peccaries, with a gland on their back, emitting a fœtid odour. All these animals have muscular and callous noses, which fit them well for grubbing in the ground. The curious Hyrax, one of the species of which is the Coney of Scripture: in structure it resembles a diminutive Rhinoceros. The Shielded Beasts, as the Manis, or Scaly Ant-eaters of India and Africa, with their very long claws, which are turned in when they walk; the burrowing Armadilloes of South America, which, when danger threatens, can roll themselves into a ball, covered with jointed mail, whence they have derived their name. The Aard Vark, or Ground Pig of South Africa, which burrows in ant-hills. The Ant-eaters of South America, which are covered with hair, and have a very long worm-like tongue, which they exert into ant-hills, and, when covered with ants, draw into their mouths. The Porcupine Ant-eater, or Echidna of Australia, with its armature of spines, and the Duck-billed Platypus of the same country, called Water Mole by the colonists, as it burrows in the banks of streams, and is a good swimmer. The Sloths of South America, peculiarly organized for a forest life; living entirely among trees, and crawling along the under side of the branches.

Cases 17-30 contain the Deer, Musks, and Horses. In the Deer the horns, which, except in the Reindeer, are confined to the males, are solid and annually shed and reproduced. The Stag and Fallow Deer of Europe, the large Wapiti of North America, the Reindeer and Elk of Northern Europe and America, the Rusa and spotted Axis of India, and the Brazilian Coassus. The Musks, with their peculiar fur and musk bag, are hornless, and have large canine teeth.

The Horse tribe with solid hoofs, such as the Quagga, and the finelybanded Zebras of South Africa; the wild Asses of Asia.

3. MAMMALIA SALOON.

In the WALL CASES of this SALOON are arranged the specimens of Four-handed, Rapacious, Glirine, and Pouched Beasts, and over the Cases are the different kinds of Seals, Manatees, and Porpoises; and arranged in Table Cases are the general collections of Corals.

In the central eastern division of this Saloon, suspended from the roof, is the skeleton of a Whale from New Zealand (Balæna australis), a species as important to commerce as the Right Whale of the Northern Hemisphere; it is a young individual, not quite half grown. Further, a skeleton of the Bottle-nosed Dolphin (Dolphinus tursio), of which a large shoal was taken near Holyhead in 1866; of the Narwhal (Monodon monoceros), one of the most singular animals of the whale-tribe, distinguished by a long spirally-twisted tusk, which projects from the snout in the line of the animal's body. This tusk is developed on one side of the snout only (the left), very rarely on both sides. In the adult male it reaches a length of six or eight feet, but is seldom developed in the female; hence it is probable, that its use is the same as that of the antlers in the stag. The ivory of the tusk

commands a high price in the market, and was still more valued in former times, when it was believed to be the horn of the Unicorn. The Narwhal is an inhabitant of the Arctic Seas, and rarely strays to more temperate regions.

Cases 1-20. The Primates or Four-handed Beasts, exclusively natives of the warmer parts of the globe, and particularly organized for a life among trees. They are often called Quadrumana, from their four extremities having, in most cases, a thumb opposed to the other toes, so that they are able to lay hold, as it were, with four hands.

The

Cases 1-13. The Monkeys of the Old World are chiefly distinguished by the very narrow division between their nostrils. The Chimpanzees of West Africa are black; while the Orangs of Borneo and Sumatra are red-haired. They are generally called Anthropoid Apes, from having some resemblance to man, but this likeness decreases with age. They live chiefly on fruits, and from their size and strength are formidable when attacked. The long forearms of the Gibbons are very useful to them among trees. Semnopitheci, Cercopitheci, and Colobi of the Old World are Monkeys with long tails; one of the most remarkable is the Proboscis Monkey of Borneo, with its singular long nose; here also may be noticed the Entellus, or Sacred Monkey of the Hindoos, which is religiously preserved about their sacred enclosures; the Douc, with its finelycontrasted colours; and the Colobi, so called from their fore-hands wanting the thumb; of these the most handsome is the Abyssinian Guereza, with long white hairs flowing over its sides and with the white tail contrasting strongly with the deep black fur. The skin of this Monkey is used to ornament the shields of the Abyssinian Chiefs. The Barbary Ape has been introduced on the rock of Gibraltar, and is the only Monkey found in Europe. The Black Wandaroo, with its grey wig, is a conspicuous species found in Ceylon and Southern India.

Case 11. The Gorilla of the Gaboon differs from its companions. the Chimpanzees in being of much larger size and of a fuscous and partly grey colour; the skeleton of an adult is exhibited to show the great strength of its bony structure.

Cases 12-13. The Baboons have elongated muzzles, somewhat like dogs, hence their names of Cynocephali or Dog-heads. They are natives of Africa; the most conspicuous are the Chacma, Anubis, the Tartarin, frequently represented on the Egyptian monuments, and the Mandrill or Rib-nosed Baboon, from West Africa, one of the specimens being the identical "Happy Jerry," which used to amuse the visitors at Old Exeter Change.

Cases 13-18 contain the American Monkeys, distinguished by the broad space between their nostrils, and by their tails being generally prehensile, which assists them in climbing. Some of them have very long legs, and want the thumb of the fore-hand; from their slimness they are called Spider Monkeys. The Howlers are so called from the loud cries which they utter at night. This howling sound is produced in a large, peculiar bony chamber, connected with the larynx, and giving a goitred appearance to their throat. Some of

these Monkeys have their bodies covered with long hair, whilst others are distinguished by a very bushy beard. The Ouistiti Marmozets and little Silky Lion Monkey are noticeable for their delicate beauty; the Douroucouli, with its large eyes and Lori-like aspect, is strictly nocturnal.

Cases 19 and 20 contain the Lemurs and Loris. The Lemurs take the place of Monkeys in Madagascar, and are handsome soft-furred animals with convolute tails. They live in trees, and feed on birds, insects and fruits. Some of the finest and most remarkable species are exhibited in separate cases in the Eastern Zoological Gallery. The Loris are East Indian animals, with large eyes; they sleep all day, and are very active at night. The Flying Lemurs, or Colugos, have the fore and hind legs connected by an expanded skin, which acts as a parachute, supporting them when leaping from branch to branch. They live on trees in the Indian Archipelago, and suspend themselves by their feet to the branches, back downwards, thus forming a kind of hammock in which they nurse their young.

Cases 21-51 contain the Carnivorous Quadrupeds, distinguished by the sharpness and trenchant form of some of their molars, the tubercles projecting from others, and the large size of the canine teeth. They are particularly organized to feed on flesh; most of them catch and kill their prey. The Cats, or Feline Animals, with their retractile claws; the Lion of Africa and Asia; the striped Tiger of India; the spotted Leopards of Africa and Asia, at home among trees; the fierce Jaguar of South America; the long-tailed Ounce with its thick fur, found even among the snows of the Himalaya. The sharp-eyed Lynx with tufted ears; the Cheetah, or Hunting Leopard, trained in India to bring down game, and for that purpose carried hoodwinked, till an Antelope or other game is in sight, when, on the blinders being removed, the Cheetah pursues and springs on the animal.

Cases 30 and 31. The Hyænas, noted for their extreme voracity, and the loud howling they make at night; they feed chiefly on carrion.

Case 32. The Civets, which secrete in a pouch a peculiar substance used as perfume. The Genets, Lingsang, Bassaris, and Ichneumons prey upon the smaller quadrupeds and birds, and are fond of sucking the eggs of reptiles and birds. The Surikate is readily tamed. Cases 37-42. The Dogs which walk with the claws exposed: the Wolves hunting their prey in packs; the Jackals wandering about at night and feeding on carrion. The Foxes, with sharp muzzles and bushy tails, are proverbial for their cunning: a species is found in the Arctic regions, which turns white in winter. The African Otocyon and Fennec, with their enormous ears. Of the Dogs, one of the most interesting is the Esquimaux Dog, indispensable to the Arctic tribes during their long journeys over the snow. Case 43. The Weasels, well adapted by their slenderness to creep into holes where they find their prey. Some of the best furs are derived from this tribe; in Siberia and North America, the Sable and Ermine are regularly trapped during the winter for their skins. Case 44. The

Wolverene, a very astute and ferocious animal, said to master even the large Elk, on which it drops from an overhanging branch of a tree; the Cape Ratel, whose favourite food is honey, in getting which it shows a peculiar instinct; the Badgers, very strong creatures living in holes which they dig in the ground; the Skunks deriving their name (Mephitis) from the odious smell which they emit when provoked: they are natives of America.

Case 45. The Otters, with short webbed feet and long bodies, inhabit rivers and lakes, and live on fish; the skin of the American Sea Otter is greatly valued as a fur.

Cases 45-50. The Bears are named Plantigrade from walking on the soles of their feet, unlike the Dogs, which are Digitigrade, or walk on their toes. Bears are more frugivorous than carnivorous; but the Polar Bear, the tyrant of the Arctic seas, lives chiefly on seals and fish. The tropical Bears have generally short fur and long tongues. Most of the Bears can climb well, and balance themselves on the hind legs with ease. The American Raccoon has been called Lotor, or the Washer, from its habit of dipping its food in water before eating it. Cases 51-52. The Coati, with its long snout, which is used for grubbing in the ground; the Ailurus of Nepal, one of the most brilliantly coloured of quadrupeds, a very active creature among trees. Here are placed the Insectivora, such as the Moles, with their strange fore-feet used for digging; the Golden Moles of South Africa, with iridescent fur, so rare among the Mammalia; the Tanrecs of Madagascar and the Mauritius, which sleep during the intense heats of summer; the Hedgehogs, with their prickles,-they are useful to destroy cockroaches; the Ptilocercus of Borneo, with its long feathered tail; the Tupaia of Java; the long-nosed Elephant-shrews of Africa; the little sharp-nosed Shrews which live on insects and worms; the Gymnura of Malacca, the largest of the group.

Cases 53-64. The various kinds of Marsupial Animals, so called from the pouch in which the young are nurtured; they are only found in Australasia and America: among them may be noticed the Petauri or Flying Phalangers; the Cuscus, natives of New Guinea and the adjacent islands, with prehensile tails; the dwarf Opossum Mouse and curious-footed Tarsipes of King George's Sound. The Koala, called by the Australian colonists the Monkey; the Phalangers; the Kangaroos, with long hind legs and large tails, useful to them in their flying leaps; the Rock Kangaroo, and the Tree Kangaroo. The Bettongia, one of which makes a curious nest; the tail-less burrowing Wombat with its thick skull; the voracious Tasmanian Wolf, and the Dasyure or Australian Devil, which worries the sheep of the colonist; the pretty-banded Myrmecobius. The Opossums of the New World, some of which feign death, and the little Philander, the young of which climb on their mother's back and twine their tails round that of the parent, for safety.

Case 65. The Seals, the furs of which are used in making articles of dress. The Harp Seal and Southern Sea-bear may be noticed. Cases 66-81 contain the Glires, or Gnawing animals, the mass of

which are small-sized; the largest is the Capybara of America. Amongst the more remarkable may be indicated, the trowel-tailed Beaver, still found in North America, but very rare in Europe; the Coypu and Ondatra, whose furs are used in manufactures. Cases 70-72. The Porcupines, formidably armed with quills. Some of these live among trees and have long prehensile tails. Cases 71, 72, The Agoutis and Pacas of the New World. Cases 73-75. The Hares, the fur and flesh of which are so useful to mankind. Case 76. The Jerboas, some of which take flying leaps; the Peruvian Chinchilla, with its delicate fur; the Dormice. Cases 77-80. The Squirrels, with their long bushy tails, chiefly living among trees; the Flying Squirrels, which can vault from tree to tree, assisted by the expansion of the skin of the sides. The Marmots, which pass the winter in a lethargic state; the Mole Rats and Sand Moles burrow in the ground and feed on roots; the Pouched Rats of North America, which have large cheek pouches, wherein they store their food to carry it to their burrows.

On the tops of the Cases and suspended on the walls, are arranged the collections of Seals, of Porpoises and Dolphins, and of the Manatees of Jamaica and Western Africa: most of these mammalia live in the sea; a few in estuaries or rivers. Some of the Seals are much valued for their skins and for the oil derived from their fat. Among the Dolphin family may be noticed the curious Platanista, or long-beaked Dolphin of the Ganges (on the top of Case 79).

The GENERAL COLLECTION OF CORALS is exemplified by selections arranged in the Table Cases. Tables 1-20 contain the various kinds of Madrepores or Star Corals, as the Sea Mushroom; the Brainstone; the Clove Coral; the Millepore. On the floor is a large mass of one of the corals which forms reefs in the sea, so dangerous to ships. Tables 20-31. The Barbed Corals, which generally assume the form of trees, as the Tree Coral; the Red Coral of commerce; the Gorgonia or Sea Fans; the Sea-pens, some of which emit a bright phosphorescent light.

Some of the most interesting Sponges are exhibited in upright cases at the top of the table-cases. What is preserved of these creatures, is a kind of skeleton formed by a network of siliceous filaments or spicules. The soft substance of the Sponge, which is spread over this skeleton, is generally lost; or, if preserved, shrunk into a very thin layer or bark. Case M, over Table-Case 25, contains a series of the so called "Glass-rope-coral," from Japan and the Coast of Portugal (Hyalonema), a Sponge which emits from its bottom part a long bundle of siliceous fibres twisted like a rope; with the aid of this rope it retains its hold in the soft mud at the bottom of the ocean, as with a root. The Japanese detach this rope from the Sponge, and manufacture spurious specimens of natural history, examples of which are also exhibited.

Case D over Table Case 8, contains specimens of the most beautiful Sponges known at present (Euplectella and Meyerina). Their skeleton consists of a network delicate like lace, and the name "Venus Flower