P> INTRODUCTION. 



Gallery D, in which the Fossil Reptiles are placed. It contains 



thirty-two Table-cases and about 260 feet linear of Wall-cases. 



Here are exhibited the finest collection of Fossil Fishes ever 



i 



brought together in any Museum. This Class was always well 

 represented in the Department, but it has lately received two 

 splendid additions, -by the acquisition of the famous collections 

 of the Earl of Enniskillen, D.C.L., F.R.S., from Florence 

 Court, Enniskillen, Ireland ; and that of the late Sir Philip 

 de Malpas Grey-Egerton, Bart., F.R.S. (Trustee of the British 

 Museum), of Oulton Park, Tarporley, Cheshire ; both obtained 

 by purchase in the year 1882, and whose incorporation has 

 only now been accomplished (1884). 



These collections, together with those of the late Dr. Mantell, 

 F.R.S. , and Mr. Frederick Dixon, F.G.S., previously acquired, 

 with other minor but valuable donations and purchases, now 

 include the majority of the figured types of Agassiz's British 

 Fossil Fishes from his great works, " Recherches sur les 

 Poissons Fossiles " (Neuchatel, 1833-43, 4°, and Atlas, folio) ; 

 and his " Monographie des Poissons Fossiles du Vieux Gres 

 Rouge, ou Systeme Devonien " (Neuchatel, 1844, text 4°, folio 

 plates). 



The Gallery has been still further enriched by the purchase 

 of the very numerous and beautiful specimens of Fossil Fishes 

 from the Cretaceous Limestone of Hakel and Sahel-el-Alma, 

 in the Lebanon, obtained through the persevering and energetic 

 labours of the Rev. Prof. E. R. Lewis, M.A., F.G.S., of the 

 Syrian Protestant College, Beirut. 



Arrangement. — The Collection, which contains about 450 

 genera, and 1250 species, commences on the left hand on 

 entering the Gallery, the Wall-cases being used for the larger 

 specimens, whilst the smaller are arranged in the nearest 

 Table-cases. 



The names of the orders and families are printed in bold 

 and conspicuous type and repeated in each Case, and those of 

 the genera being also repeated upon smaller labels. 



Every specimen bears, in addition to the genus, species, and 

 author's name, the name of the Formation and the locality 

 from which it was obtained ; and, if presented, the name of 

 the donor. 



