58 
WHALE ROOM. 
Tunicates, or Ascidians, are worthy of the best attention of the 
visitor, on account of their near affinity with the Vertebrate 
stock, of which they may be regarded as a degenerate type. It 
is in the larvae that the evidence of vertebrate , relationship is 
most conspicuous, as is well shown in fig. 31, where the striking 
resemblance between a Tadpole and a young Ascidian is dis- 
played. 
A fine series of very large shells and some interesting 
Cuttlefishes, etc., in spirit occupy four upright cases at the sides 
of the gallery, where are also placed some small table-cases 
containing a selection of British shells, and series of the eggs 
of Molluscs and of the operculum, or plate, by means of which 
the opening or mouth of the shell is closed in many species. 
Specimens illustrating the formation of pearls, and other points 
of special interest connected with Molluscs, are also displayed. 
Whale Eoom. 
Whale Room. Approached by a staircase, leading from the last (or western- 
most) of the passages which connect the Bird gallery with the 
Coral gallery, is a separate room in which are placed the specimens 
of Whale-like animals. For these, on account of their large size, 
no other place could be found in the portion of the Museum 
galleries already completed. The room has, unfortunately, 
the disadvantage of being too small to display such 
