FLOOE.] 
MAMMALIA SALOON. 
7 
eating it. Case 51. The Coati, with its long snout, which is used for 
grubbing in the ground ; the Ailurus of Nepal, one of the most bril- 
liantly coloured of quadrupeds, a very active creature among trees. 
Here are placed the Insectivora, such as the Moles, with their strange 
fore-feet used for digging ; the Golden Moles of South Africa, with 
their refulgent fur, so rare among the Mammalia ; the Tanrecs of 
Madagascar and the Mauritius, which sleep during the intense heats 
of summer ; the Hedgehogs, with their prickles, — they are useful to 
destroy cockroaches ; the Ptilocercus of Borneo, with its long feathered 
tail ; the Tupaia of Java ; the long-nosed Elephant-shrews of Africa ; 
the little sharp-nosed Shrews which live on insects and worms; the 
Gymnura of Malacca, the largest of the group. 
Cases 53-64. The various kinds of Marsupial Animals, so called 
from the pouch in which the young is so long nurtured ; they are only 
found in Australia and America : among them may be noticed the 
Petauri or Flying Phalangers ; the Cuscus, natives of New G uinea and 
the adjacent islands, with their prehensile tails ; the dwarf Opossum 
Mouse and curious-footed Tarsipes of King George's Sound. The Koala, 
often called by the Australian colonists the Monkey ; the Phalangers ; 
the Kangaroos, with their long hind legs and large tails, so useful 
to them in their flying leaps ; the Kock Kangaroo, and the Tree Kan- 
garoo, with its bear-like aspect. The Bettongia, one of which makes 
a curious nest ; the tail-less burrowing Wombat with its thick skull ; 
the voracious Tasmanian Wolf, and the Dasyure or Australian Devil, 
w 7 hich worries the sheep of the colonist ; the pretty-banded Myrineco- 
bius. The Opossums of the New World, some of which feign death, 
and the little Philander, the young of which climb on their mother's 
back and twine their tails round that of the parent, for safety. 
Cases 65-81 contain the Glires, or Gnawing animals, the mass of 
which are small-sized ; the largest is the Capybara of America. 
Amongst the more remarkable may be indicated, the trowel-tailed 
Beaver, still found in North America, but very rare in Europe ; the 
Coypu and Ondatra, whose furs are used in manufactures. Cases 
70-72. The Porcupines, so formidably armed with quills. Some 
of these live among trees and have long prehensile tails ; the Agoutis 
and Pacas of the New World. Cases 73-75. The Hares, the fur and 
flesh of which are so useful to mankind ; the Jerboas, some of which 
take flying leaps ; the Peruvian Chinchilla, with its delicate fur ; the 
Dormice. Cases 77-80. The Squirrels, with their long bushy tails, 
chiefly living among trees ; the Flying Squirrels, which can vault from 
tree to tree, assisted by the expansion of the skin of the sides. The 
Marmots, which pass the winter in a lethargic state ; the Mole Bats 
and Sand Moles burrow in the ground and feed on roots ; the Pouched 
Rats of North America, which have large cheek pouches, wherein 
they store their food and carry it to their burrows. 
On the tops of the Cases and suspended on the walls, are arranged 
the collections of Seals, of Porpoises and Dolphins, and of the Manatees 
of Jamaica and Western Africa: most of these mammalia live in the sea; 
a few in estuaries or rivers. Some of the Seals are much valued for 
