62 



LOWER MAMMAL GALLERY. 



Lower 



Mammal 



Gallery. 



The lower Mammal gallery is entered from the western 

 corridor of the central hall. Together with the adjacent 

 corridor it contains the greater part of the exhibited series of 

 recent Mammals, with the exception of the Cetacea, Sirenia, and 

 Proboscidea; the orders Primates, Ohiroptera, and Insectivora 

 being in the upper gallery. As two special guides* are devoted 

 to these galleries, a very brief notice will serve on this occasion. 

 Both stuffed specimens and skulls and skeletons are exhibited, 

 although the former constitute by far the greater portion of 

 the series. A few remains of extinct types, or plaster repro- 

 duction of the same, are introduced here and there ; and 

 photographs of living animals are hung on the walls, where 



Pig. 33. — The Platypus ok DnoK-BiLL {Omithorhyndhus anatinus). 



will also be found some instructive series showing the modi- 

 fications assumed by the teeth of certain groups. Wherever 

 possible, the horns and antlers of the Euminants, as well as 

 the horns of the Ehinoceroses, are placed in juxtaposition to 

 the animals to which they respectively belong. 



The series commences on the right side of the gallery with 

 the lowest forms. Down the middle is a row of large Mammals, 

 comprising various Deer, Seals, and Ehinoceroses. On the right 

 of the entrance a small case contains the Platypus or Duck-bill 

 (fig. 33) and Echidnas of Australia and New Guinea, which lay 

 eggs, and are the lowest of all living Mammals. In the adjacent 

 bay are the Marsupials, such as the Kangaroos, Phalangers, 



*" Guide to the Galleries of Mammals" and "Guide to Great Game 

 (Ungulates)." 



