IV. — MAMMALIA. 35 



the Cervidse, horns, strictly speaking, are not present, but are 

 replaced by antlers, which grow from the skull, are covered with 

 a delicate skin while growing, and are shed annually; the males 

 only possess antlers, except in the case of the Reindeer. The 

 following species are represented : — 



The "M-WHtiak—iCervulus sdateH and Cervulus muntjak) from 

 India. 



The Red Deer or Stag— (Cerv?<s elephas) from Germany and 

 Ireland. 



The Roe DeeY—iCapreolus caprcea) from Scotland, found also in 

 Europe. 



The Spotted Deer — {Axis maculata) from India. 



The Irish "Elk " — now extinct— (Megaceros hibernicus) a skeleton 

 of which from Ireland, is in the Osteological Hall. 



Orders VIII and IX.-CETACEA and SIRENIA— 



These two orders were formerly considered as one, but a know- 

 ledge of their structural differences have now led zoologists to 

 separate them. The Cetacea comprise most of the aquatic 

 Mammals : — "Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins. The Sirenia 

 contain the Manatees, and Dugongs, and the now extinct Rhytina 

 stelleri. 



The largest living animal known is the Whale, of which there 

 are many species. On account of its large size only skeletons can 

 be preserved and shown in a museum. The principal are : — 



The Baleen Whales, of which the Greenland Whale {Balcena 

 mysticetus) is perhaps the best known. Its characteristic is 

 the "whalebone" which serves as a strainer to separate the 

 food from the water when it fills its mouth. The Greenland 

 Whale is a native of the Arctic Ocean. It sometimes attains 

 a length of 80 feet, and is hunted for its Whalebone and Oil. 

 It is not found in Southern Seas, and there is no specimen in 

 this Museum, but smaller species of BalcBncB or Whalebone 

 Whales exist here. Some of these, of which skeletons are 

 exhibited, are : — 



Balsena antipodarum. 

 Balsena novse-zealandise. 



« 



Balsenoptera marginalis. 



