December i, 189 1] 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



93 



exploring Peru for the Museum of Varsovia, had the 

 good fortune to re-discover the species, and brought 

 home about fifteen specimens of this rare species, 

 including the female, " which was not known," and 

 youngs ; but John Gould was no more at that time !! 



Besides the fine collection of Humming Birds 

 exhibited, John Gould has left another collection of 

 skins, containing all his types, which is kept in the 

 study room, and where it is accessible to students. 



Humming Birds, or Trochilidœ, are only found 

 in the New World, and form a group by themselves, 

 for which I have proposed the name of Trochili, 

 Cat. Avium, 1876. 



About 430 species are actually known. Nearly all 

 of them are conspicuous for the beauty of their 

 colours and the originality of their forms. In a few 

 species the females are as brightly coloured as the 

 males. No other group of birds can compare in 

 beauty of colours with the Humming Birds, which in 

 that respect are the gems of Nature, and quite as 

 gorgeous as the finest precious stones. 



They are the smallest birds known, some of the 

 smallest species being hardly larger than a middle 

 size Sphynx " Moth," meanwhile the largest species 

 known, il Patagona gigas" is not larger than a swallow. 



They are somewhat allied to the Swifts and the 

 Woodpeckers, with which they have many points of 

 their internal organisation in common. 



MAMMALIAN GALLERY. 



The Mammalian Gallery which is on the first floor 

 is entered from the western corridor of the Central 

 Hall. It contains the series of stuffed specimens of 

 animals of this class, with the exception of the 

 Cetacea and the Sirenia. Skeletons of the most 

 important types are incorporated with this series. 

 The collection of antlers of the family Deer is ranged 

 along the top of the cases. 



The series commences on the left with the 

 PRIMATES, the most highly organised forms, viz., the 

 apes and monkeys — "Cases 1 — 10," of which the 

 fine series of Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Orang- 

 outangs deserve special attention. Among the 

 ordinary monkeys, some of the striking species, both 

 in form and colour, are the Proboscis monkey 

 " Nasalis larvatus," so called on account of the 

 remarkable length of its nose ; the Guereza, " Colobus 

 guereza," which has on its side a peculiar fringe of 

 long white hairs reaching quite down to the ground ; 

 the Macaques, one species Inus ecaudatus, leading 

 a precarious existence on the rocks of Gibraltar, 

 the Baboons, Cynocephalus ; hideous animals with 

 powerful teeth, projecting jaws, nearly equal fore and 

 hind limbs and dull-coloured fur, and the Mandrill, 

 " Papio Maimon" with a short stumpy tail and a 

 perfectly naked face, the skin of which is brightly 

 marked with blue and vermillion. Next comes the 

 group Cebidœ comprising the Spider monkeys Ateles, 

 the Howling monkeys, Mycetes, the males of which 

 possess a most extraordinary voice ; the resonance of 

 which is increased by a peculiar chamber formed by 

 the middle portion of the bone of the tongue. At 

 day-break and at sun-set the dulness of the forests of 



tropical countries of Central and South America is en- 

 livened by the terrific noise made by these animals ; 

 the Negro monkeys, Lagothrix, the Squirrel monkeys 

 Nyctipithecus, Callethrix and Chrysofhrix, all beauti- 

 ful little creatures, with soft bright coloured fur ; the 

 Sapajous or Capucin monkeys, " Cebus" and the 

 Hapalidœ or Marmosets. 



Then comes the Lemuroidea for the most part 

 natives of Madagascar, including the Indrisinae, 

 Indris and Propithecus, the Lemurinœ or true Lemurs, 

 the Galeaginœ " Chirogale and Ga/ago," the Lorisince, 

 the Tarsiidce and Chiromydce. The type of this last 

 family is the extraordinary animal Aye-Aye of Mada- 

 gascar, " Chiro?nys madagascariensis" with onlv 18 

 teeth, very large ears, a long bushy tail, and long 

 compressed claws on all the fingers and toes, with the 

 exception of the hallux, which is opposable and has 

 a flat nail. 



In Cases n — 26, are exhibited the whole assem- 

 blage of animals known by the name of beasts of 

 prey, comprising the Cats, Wolves and Dogs, Bears, 

 Weasels, and many other allied animals, viz., the Seals 

 and Walruses. 



The series of Felidce Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguars, 

 Ocelots and Lynxes, is very fine. 



Several varieties of the domestic Dog are exhibited 

 in Cases 19 and 20. In the upper compartments 

 of Cases 17 and 18 are the Wolves. 



The last great division of the fissiped Carnivora is 

 the Arctoidea, consisting of the Bears, Weasels, 

 Racoons, etc. The most typical members are com- 

 pletely plantigrade, walking flat on their palms and 

 soles ; and all have five toes on each of their feet. 



The series of true Bears Ursidœ, is very well repre- 

 sented. Conspicuous among them are the Polar 

 bear, Ursus maritimus, and the Grizzly bear, Ursus 

 ferox. 



The fin-footed Carnivores or Carnivora pinnipedia, 

 consisting of the Seals and their allies are exhibited in 

 several cases in the centre of the gallery. Very fine 

 male specimens of Otaria stelleri and Otaria jubata 

 are in a special case by themselves. 



Of the numerous species of Eared seals, one of the 

 most worthy of mention is the Fur seal, Callorhinus 

 ursinus, of the North Pacific, from which most of the 

 sealskins sold are obtained. 



The small order of Insectivora comprising the 

 Tupaiidœ or Tree-shrews, the Macroscelididae or 

 Elephant-shrews, the Erinaceidœ, Hedgehogs and 

 Gymnura, the Talpidœ or moles, the Soricidce or 

 Shrews, the Centetidœ or Taurecs, and the Chryso- 

 chloridc? or Moles is exhibited in Case 27. In this 

 same case are also the Frugivorous and Insectivorous 

 Bats belonging to the Order Chiroptera. 



Cases 27 — 32 contain the order Rodentia or 

 Gnawing Mammals, comprising the Squirrels, Rats, 

 Hares, etc., and form by far the largest order of 

 Mammals, containing over 900 distinct species. 



The Order Ungulata or Hoofed animals, com- 

 prising Elephants, Rhinoceroses, Tapirs, Pigs, Camels, 

 Llamas, Oxen, Sheep, Antelopes, Gazelles, Chevrotains, 

 and Deers, is exhibited in Cases 35 — 94. The series 

 of these animals is large and very interesting. 



Cases 33 and 34 contain the curious order of 

 Edentata, so named on account of the incomplete- 



