6o 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



[August i, 1 89 1. 



entrance to the hall, shows to which a species may 

 become subject, under the influence of domestication, 

 as illustrated by choice examples of the best marked 

 breeds of pigeons, all of which are derived from the 

 wild Rock dove {Columbia livid). 



One case contains a series of specimens illustrating 

 albinism. Another shows examples of the opposite 

 condition, called melanistn. The bays or alcoves round 

 the hall, five on each side, are devoted to the intro- 

 ductory or elementary morphological collection, design- 

 ed to teach the most important points in the structure 

 of the principal types of animal and plant life. 



This collection is only in its infancy but when com- 

 pleted, it is hoped that it may ultimately serve as a 

 guide for the formation of educational biological 

 museums elsewhere. 



The bays on the west side (left hand on entering 

 the hall) are devoted to the Vertebrated Animals. In 

 Nos. 1 and 2 are shown the characters of the Mam- 

 malian modifications of this type. The wall-cases of 

 No. 1 are already filled with specimens showing the 

 bony framework of Mammals. 



The central case of Bay 1 contains a collection 

 illustrating the principal characters of the teeth in 

 Mammalia. Bay No. 2 contains in its first wall-case 

 illustrations of the outer covering or integument and 

 its modifications in the class of Mammals. 

 Bay No. 3 is devoted to the class of Birds. 

 Bays Nos. 4 and 5, show the most important points 

 in the structure of Reptiles and Fishes. 



Bays Nos. 6 and 7 will contain illustrations of the 

 articulated classes Cruitacea, Arachnida, Myriopoda, 

 Insecta, Annulosa, Vermes, Mollusca, Echinodermata, 

 Cselenterata, Porifera, Protozoa. 



Bays Nos. 8, 9 and 10 will be devoted for the 

 morphology of the vegetable kingdom, the first con- 

 taining the Cryptogams, the next the Gymnosperms 

 and the Monocotyledons, and the last the Dycotyle- 

 dons. 



This Introductory or Elementary Morphological 

 Collection, which is intended to be an introduction to 

 all the others, is under the immediate supervision of 

 the Director, Professor W. H. Flower. 



GALLERY OF BRITISH ZOOLOGY. 



At the north end of the Central Hall, on either 

 side of the staircase, is a large room containing a 

 collection of animals of all classes, which are or have 

 been found in the British Isles. 



It is excessively interesting and contains very rare 

 and valuable species, amongst which I have already 

 mentioned one specimen of the excessively rare, ex- 

 tinct species of Bird, the Great Auk [Alca impennis). 



Many are the species of Mammals, Birds, Rep- 

 tiles, Fishes. Mollusca, etc., exhibited in this room. 

 They are also two cabinets containing a very val- 

 uable collection of British Butterflies and Moths, 

 with their larvae, all of them prepared by Lord 

 Walsingham and presented to the Museum by him 

 in 1887. 



This Gallery is one of the great attractions of 

 the Museum. It is greatly appreciated by the 



Visitors, which clearly shows that the exhibit of local 

 Collections ought to be the beginning of all public 

 Museums. 



BIRD GALLERY. 



On the ground floor (left hand side), of the Cen- 

 tral Hall is the long gallery, extending the entire 

 length of the front of that wing of the building, 

 where is exhibited the collection of stuffed birds. 



The wall-cases contain mounted specimens of the 

 principal species, arranged in systematic order, be- 

 ginning with the Birds of prey and ending with the 

 Penguins. 



The various types of the birds of prey are wel 

 represented, from the Condor to the Dwarf Falcon 

 which is not much larger than a sparrow. 



Among the rarest species, I have remarked two 

 specimens of the Californian Vulture, one specimen 

 of Sarcoramphus sequatorialis (the type of the species) 

 which I believe to be a young of the Condor or 

 Great Vulture of the Andes ; two poor specimens of 

 the rare Secretary bird from South Africa. 



Thrasaetus harpya (2), Morphnus guianensis (1), 

 Gypaetus barbatus (1), Hierofalco candicans (6), 

 Hierofalco gyrfalco (1), Syrnium lapponicum (2), one 

 perfectly white specimen of Nictea nivea, or Snow 

 Owl and many others. 



Case 18 contains the collection of the splendid 

 Paradise birds ; but it is not so good as it ought 

 to be, and being placed in the lower part of Case 

 it shows poorly. 



In Case 28 are two specimens of the rare Bor, 

 nean Crow (Pityriasis gymnocephalus ) ; but they 

 are poor specimens. 



In Case 29, 1 was astonished not to see the splen- 

 did bird Calyptomena whiteheadi, lately discovered 

 in Borneo, by Mr. Whitehead. 



Cases 31 and 32 contain the collection of Hum- 

 ming birds ; but they are so high that they can .scar- 

 cely be seen, which is a great pity, these birds, 

 being great favourites with the public. 



In Case 32 is one specimen of the rare Bee 

 Eater (Merops Breweri). 



Case 35 contains a fine series of species of King 

 Fishers, among which, I noticed two specimens of 

 Caridonax fulgidus. 



In Case 40 are found the following rare species 

 of Parrots, Ara rubrigenys from Bolivia, Ara glauca, 

 Conurus solstitialis, Psittacus pachyrhynchus, etc., etc. 

 At the end of the same side of the gallery are 

 placed skeletons of the Dodo and Solitaire, supposed 

 to be gigantic pigeons, with wings too small for 

 flight, cause of their total extermination by the in- 

 habitants of the islands of Mauritius and Rodriguez, 

 in whose islands these birds did thrive. 



In the Pavilion, at the further end of the Gallery, 

 are placed the birds known actually as Ratitœ, in- 

 cluding the Ostriches, Emus, Cassowaries, and 

 Aptéryx. 



The series of these birds is very fine and very 

 valuable. 



