PLANTS. 33 



Specimens of the horny or shelly plate (operculum) closing the 

 mouth of many Gastropod shells are also exhibited in this case. 



The right end of the same case displays spirit-preparations 

 of the Cephalopod Molluscs, such as Cuttle-fish, Squids, 

 Nautilus, Paper-Nautilus, &c. Specimens of the horny 

 beaks possessed by all members of this class are also 

 exhibited ; and a Pearly Nautilus, with the shell cut in two in 

 order to show the air-chambers and the comparatively small 

 space occupied by the "animal," will be found of special 

 interest. 



The table-case in this bay, as mentioned above (p. 14), is 

 devoted to the illustration of " Mimicry " and kindred pheno- 

 mena. Most of the examples shown occur among Insects ; but 

 one example among Mammals and a second in Birds are 

 illustrated. Very striking is a, coloured sketch showing a group 

 of red and black caterpillars from Singapore collected side by 

 side on the stem of a plant so as to present a remarkable 

 similarity to a succulent fruit. Another instance of a 

 similar type, from East Africa, is exhibited in the sketch of a 

 " flower," formed by winged Insects allied to Cicadas, the red 

 males constituting the base, and the green females the summit 

 of the spike. 



In bay VIII., on the eastern side of the central hall, an Bay VIII. 

 exhibition illustrating trees, native to or grown in Britain, is in 

 progress. The winter and summer states are indicated by 

 photographs, and the foliage, flowers, fruits, seedlings, and 

 texture of wood and bark, by specimens, models, and drawings. 

 Bays IX. and X. are intended to illustrate the structure of 

 the vegetable kingdom, and are in course of arrangement. 



Two table-cases illustrating insectivorous (insect-eating), and Bay ix. 

 parasitic plants respectively are temporarily placed in bay IX. 



At the back of the bay is a fine polished section of a buttress 

 from the base of the Tapang (Abauria excelsa), the largest tree 

 in Borneo, attaining a height of 250 feet. 



The last bay is devoted to the " Angiospermous " division of Bay x. 

 seed-plants, in which the pollen penetrates the stigma and ^"^*^'*^°''^ 

 fertilises the ovule in a closed chamber or ovary, which develops Monoootyie- 

 into the fruit enclosing the seed. The Angiosperms forming the ^"'"^" 

 section of Monocotyledons are characterised by a single seed- 



D 



