28 CENTRAL HALL. 



different modifications in the skull and teeth of living and 

 extinct Eeptiles. In some, like Crocodiles and Ichthyosaurs, 

 the jaws are armed with a full series of sharply pointed teeth, 

 while in others, like the Tortoises and Turtles, they are devoid 

 of teeth and encased in horn. Very remarkable is the 

 approximation to a carnivorous mammalian type presented by 

 the dentition of some of the extinct Theromorphs, and equally 

 noticeable are the palatal crushing teeth of certain other extinct 

 Eeptiles known as Placodus and Oyamodus. The peculiar den- 

 tition of the New Zealand Tuatera, and likewise that of its 

 extinct European and Indian ally Syperodapedon (fig. 8), are 

 also shown. 



The brain and other internal organs of Eeptiles are displayed 

 in the left half of the wall-case on the north side of this bay, 

 in which are also shown the eggs of many species, in some cases 

 with the embryo. 



In the right half of the same case is exhibited a number of 

 preparations showing the external form and internal structure 

 of Amphibians, living and extinct. The Giant Salamander of 

 Japan (Megaloiatrachus or Cryptobranchus) is represented by 

 a stuffed specimen but the Newts, Salamanders, and Frogs 

 are shown in spirit. Very curious is the almost colourless 

 and blind 01m (Proteus) from the caves of Carniola ; as also 

 are the so-called Cecilians, or Apoda, which have the habits 

 and, in some degree, the appearance of large worms. Special 

 specimens exhibit the structure of the extinct Labyrinthodonts, 

 in which the hinder half of the skull is completely roofed over 

 by bone ; while the teeth in many cases exhibit a curious in- 

 folded arrangement from which the group derives its name. 

 Bay V. The last bay (No. V.) on the west side of the Central Hall is 



structure of devoted to the display of the form and structure of Pishes. 



The wall-case on the left side of this bay exhibits the external 

 form of several characteristic types of Fishes, such as the Pike, 

 Cod, Turbot, Dog-fish, and Skate, with the names of the various 

 fins affixed. A striking specimen is the skeleton — mainly carti- 

 laginous — of the Great Blue Shark (Carcharodon rondeletii) 

 (fig. 9), which occupies the greater portion of this case. It 

 should be noted that, as in all Sharks and Eays, the upper jaws 

 do not correspond with those of the higher Vertebrates; and 



