40 MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 



Room 355 



A Synopsis of the Fishes 



The central cases show the most primitive of living fishes, the hag- 

 fishes, lampreys (Myxinoids) as well as the higher sharks and skates, 

 and also the most primitive of the bony fishes. 



The wall cases beginning on the Northwest wall (just beyond the 

 door to the reptile room) and continuing all the way around the wall 

 cases to the door from the invertebrate synopsis contain a series 

 showing the principal families of bony fishes ending with the Aus- 

 tralian mudfish. This, one of the Dipnoi or Lung fishes, is allied to 

 forms which gave rise to the Amphibia. Fish are difficult creatures to 

 exhibit satisfactorily. The skinning, mounting and coloring require 

 the highest skill, and it is only with great difficulty that so many well- 

 mounted specimens have been assembled as are shown here. Some 

 forms are so soft-bodied that it is necessary to show models in place of 

 the actual specimens. 



Room 353 



Synopsis of Amphibia and Reptiles 



In the Northeast corner wall case will be found a few amphibians, 

 the group represented by frogs, toads, the newts, salamanders and the 

 legless Caecilians. This exhibit is admittedly inadequate, but shows a 

 number of interesting forms and some illustrations of the develop- 

 ment from larva (tadpole) to adult, as well as their methods of caring 

 for their young. The curious meringue-like nest of Chiromantis, an 

 African tree frog, is made of slime from the creatures body beaten up 

 into a froth with its feet. While this is soft the eggs are laid therein. 

 The mass hardens and forms a sort of cocoon in which they are pro- 

 tected until they hatch. 



The central cases show almost all the species of crocodiles and alli- 

 gators. The great skull from the Philippine Islands is the largest ever 

 recorded, and the whole history of its capture is a fascinating ro- 

 mance (see label). What is probably the record skull of the Florida 

 Alligator is shown nearby also. The large monitor lizard from 

 Komodo Island is a handsome recent accession. Near this is a fine 



