The British Museum Explained and Illustrated. 



CHAP. IV. THE MAMMALIA SALOON. 



The readei', as well as the visitor, must now make a 

 sudden progression into the new apartments to whicli the 

 animals, fornierlj in the old rooms, have been removed. 

 Ascending the flight of steps leading to the Mamnialia 

 Salron, forming"- part of what is at present styled the 

 Eastern Zoological Gallery, we find ourselves in a wide 

 and spacious apartment, the cases in which are for the 

 most part filled with specimens of the Simian tribe. 

 These, all falling undf-r the general title of mawnudia, 

 cannot fail to be regarded witli peculiar interest. It is 

 scarcely necessary to remind the rea<ler that cjuadrupeds 

 supply us with the most precious of earthly gifts. The 

 ample coverings of our fleecy flocks possess infinitely 

 more value than the brightest gem that ever flashed 

 lustre from an eastern diadem. Without the horse, the 

 ox, the sheep, and the dog, our present condition would 

 be tlie mo.'^ wretched that can be imagined; our j)oli- 

 tical, social, and commercial relations would undergo an 

 overwhelming revolution. Deprived of his rein-doer 

 bow would the Laplander support kis " sleepless 

 summer of long night " or his snow-enshrouded winter ? 

 Without the enduring camel the desert sands of Africa, 

 if not lifeless solitudes would at least be impassable to 

 the human race, and for all commercial purposes as use- 

 less as an ocean without ships. Let it not therefore be 

 considered we are devoting too great a space to the con- 

 sideration of these objects, for although the race of 

 monkeys may not exactly challenge the respectful atten- 

 tion due to the more noble orders of animals, tJiey de- 

 mand, from their singular similarity in conformation to 

 the human race an especial paper devoted to themselves. 



The animals of this very varied and extensive order, 

 so familiarly known, inhabit the warmer regions of 

 Asia, Africa, and America. ' A single species remain 

 as a European representative on the rock of Gibraltar, 

 either by descent as an indigenous animal, or by acci- 

 dental importation from the opposing coast of Barbary, 

 wliere it is extremely frequent. Their true and natural 



