Hlh'DS OF I'Ah'ADlSI-: 55 



In \\\v alcoNO to the ri,i!;lil the (ii-st c*;^ ciisc contains tli<' Synoptic 



Collection of l^i;iis whicli shows the \ariation in the 

 Eggs 



mnnlxT in a set, size, shell texture, markings, shape, etc., 



and tells soniethinii; of the laws •»;overnin<>; these thin<»;s. 'I'he succeod- 



inii cases contain the general exhibition collection of nests and ogj^s, 



])rincii)ally those of North American and of Euro])ean birds. 



At the north end of the hall is a nearly c()nii)lete collection of the 



Birds of Paradis(\ ])resent(Hl by Mrs. Frank K. Sturgis. 



_, ,. This family of birds is confined to New (Juinea, Australia 



Paradise ' . 



and some neighboring islands. Their feet and bills show 

 their close relationship to the Crows and Jays, which they resemble in 

 nesting habits as well. Their chief characteristic is of course their gorgeous 

 plumes, wonderful as well in variety of form and position as in beauty. 

 For these plumes the birds are still being killed in such large numbers 

 that unless the demand for them soon ceases all the finer species will be 

 exterminated, as the Great Bird of Paradise is believed to be already. 

 More Birds of Paradise have been sold at a single London auction (23,000 

 in two sales) than are contained in all the museums of the world. 



Also in this hall are a number of groups of local and other })irds w^hich 

 are placed here only temporarily. In fact, much of the arrangement of 

 the hall will be changed as soon as circumstances permit. 

 F' b kWh 1 Suspended from the ceiling is the skeleton of a Fin- 



back Whale, sixty-two feet in length. 



CORRIDOR OF CENTRAL PAVILION 



Recent Fishes 



The doorway at the north end of the hall of the birds of the world 

 leading to the rear of the bird of paradise case opens into the gallery of 

 the Auditorium and to the corridor devoted to the general collection of 

 recent fishes. 



The exhibit includes typical examples of the various groups of back- 

 boned animals popularly comprised in the term "fishes" and is arranged 

 in progressive order. The visitor should first examine the case of hag- 

 fishes and lampreys facing the large wdndow\ These rank among the 

 most primitive "fishes." They are wdthout scales, without true teeth, 

 without paired limbs, and their backbone consists of but a rod of cartil- 

 age. One of the models shows the way in which a newly 

 ^ caught hag-fish secretes slime, forming around it a great 



Lampreys mass of jelly. In the same case are lampreys, and one of 



them is represented attached to a fish, w^hich it fatally 

 wounds. The nest -building habit of lampreys is illustrated in a 

 neighboring table-case: here the spawners are preparing a pit-like nest 



