52 EEPTILE GALLERY. 



formed by the late Mr. William Buckler, most of the specimens 

 being those bred by him in the course of the preparation of his 

 " Larvffi of British Butterflies and Moths." Above these are 

 four maps illustrating the geographical distribution of certain 

 Beetles (Calosoma, Carabus, Julodis and Stigmodera), the actual 

 specimens being placed in position on the maps. The wall- 

 cases at the end of the gallery are devoted exclusively to the 

 nests of Ants, Wasps, and Bees. On the east wall is a large 

 case containing specimens and drawings explaining the 

 structure of Insects. Beneath this are cabinets containing a 

 selection of British Insects (exclusive of Lepidoptera), and also 

 a small series of foreign Butterflies. It is proposed that the 

 Moths and other Insects shall follow in the next cabinet as soon 

 as they can be arranged. Near these are exhibited a few 

 coloured drawings of some of the smallest Insects known, 

 namely the Mymaridce, a group of minute parasitic Hymenoptera, 

 and above is a drawing of a common House-fly, enlarged in the 

 same proportion, thirty diameters, to show the contrast. A few 

 of the specimens themselves are placed in the microscope 

 below. 



In the table-cases in the middle of the gallery will be 

 found specimens and illustrations showing some of the prin- 

 cipal families of Insects, with explanations of the characters 

 by which they may be recognised. The first case (next to the 

 west door) contains an introductory series, and then follow the 

 various orders in sec[uence commencing with the most 

 primitive forms or Aptera, among which Gampodea, a small 

 British insect, should be specially noticed. 



These table-cases are still under arrangement. The Moths 

 now in the cases in the middle of the room will be removed. 

 The classification of the Butterflies, the Bees and Ants, and 

 the Beetles are shown in the last three cases. The main 

 collection of insects is kept in cabinets in the " Insect Eoom " 

 in the basement, but is open to students under the regulations 

 mentioned at the end of this guide. 

 Eeptile III. The large Eeptile gallery contains mounted specimens 



GaUery. ^^^ skeletons of Eeptiles, including Crocodiles, Lizards, Snakes, 



and Tortoises, as well as restorations or casts of the remains 

 of many groups now entirely extinct. The most noticeable 



