2. DOMESTICATED ANIMALS, HYBRIDS, AND 

 ABNORMALITIES. 



By R. LYDEKKER, F.R.S. 



In the earlier days of the Museum, specimens of domesticated 

 animals, together with hybrids, were included in the exhibited 

 series of mounted skins ; while skeletons and skulls were collected 

 or received, as opportunity occurred, for the osteological series. 

 The Museum Catalogues issued during the time when the Zoolo- 

 gical Department was under the charge of the late Dr. J. E. 

 Gray took cognisance of specimens of the above nature, a large 

 number of which are entered in several of these publications, 

 more especially Mr. E. Gerrard's " Catalogue of the Bones of 

 Mammalia." 



When the late Sir William Flower undertook the rearrange- 

 ment of the Mammal Galleries in 1896, the exhibited specimens 

 of domesticated animals (with the exception of a few, such as the 

 Indian humped ox, and the llama, which represented species by 

 themselves) were removed from the series and placed in store ; 

 this being done in the case of skins and skeletons alike. It 

 should, however, be mentioned that, even under this new depar- 

 ture, domesticated breeds were by no means excluded from the 

 exhibited series. For Sir William Flower himself caused a series 

 of specimens of the various breeds of pigeons, and another of 

 canaries, as well as a few fowls, to be mounted and exhibited in 

 the Central Hall, in illustration of the range of variation in 

 individual species under the influence of man. 



Recognising the importance of illustrating still more fully 

 this wonderful variability, and at the same time being desirous of 

 securing for posterity specimens of the domesticated breeds of 

 the present day (and, whenever possible, of past years also), 

 Professor Ray Lankester, the present Director, determined to 

 devote the greater portion of the North Hall to the exhibition of 

 specimens of this nature, as well as of hybrids and abnormalities 

 of all kinds. So soon as it was found practicable to put this 

 idea into working order, such of the mounted specimens of skins 



v 2 



