58 



WHALE ROOM. 



Tunicates, or Ascidians, are worthy of the best attention of the 

 visitor, on account of their near affinity with the Vertebrate 

 stock, of which they may be regarded as a degenerate type. It 

 is in the larvse that the evidence of vertebrate relationship is 

 most conspicuous, as is well shown in fig. 31, where the striking 

 resemblance between a Tadpole and a young Ascidian is dis- 

 played. 



A fine series of very large shells and some interesting 

 Cuttlefishes, etc., in spirit occupy four upright cases at the sides 

 of the gallery, where are also placed some small table-cases 

 containing a selection of British shells, and series of the eggs 



ASCIDIAN 



Fig. 31. — Tadpole op a Fkog ahd an Ascidian. 

 (From Lankester's " Degeneration.") 



of Molluscs and of the operculum, or plate, by means of which 

 the opening or mouth of the shell is closed in many species. 

 Specimens illustrating the formation of pearls, and other points 

 of special interest connected with Molluscs, are also displayed. 



Whale Eoom. 



Whale Eoom. Approached by a staircase, leading from the last (or western- 

 most) of the passages which connect the Bird gallery with the 

 Coral galleiy.is a separate room in which are placed the specimens 

 of Whale-like animals. For these, on account of their large size, 

 no other place could be found in the portion of the Museum 

 galleries already completed. The room has, unfortunately, 

 the disadvantage of being too small to display such 



