28 
CENTRAL HALL. 
different modifications in the skull and teeth of living and 
extinct Eeptiles. In some, like Crocodiles and Ichthyosaurs, 
the jaws are armed with a full series of sharply pointed teeth, 
while in others, like the Tortoises and Turtle's, they are devoid 
of teeth and encased in horn. Very remarkable is the 
approximation to a carnivorous mammalian type presented by 
the dentition of some of the extinct Theromorphs, and equally 
noticeable are the palatal crushing teeth of certain other extinct 
Eeptiles known as Placodits and Cyamodus. The peculiar den- 
tition of the New Zealand Tuatera, and likewise that of its 
extinct European and Indian ally Hyperodajpedon (fig. 8), are 
also shown. 
The brain and other internal organs of Eeptiles are displayed 
in the left half of the wall-case on the north side of this bay, 
in which are also shown the eggs of many species, in some cases 
with the embryo. 
In the right half of the same case is exhibited a number of 
preparations showing the external form and internal structure 
of Amphibians, living and extinct. The Giant Salamander of 
Japan {Megalobatrachiis or Cryptohranchus) is represented by 
a stuffed specimen but the Newts, Salamanders, and Frogs 
are shown in spirit. Very curious is the almost colourless 
and blind 01m {Proteus) from the caves of Carniola; as also 
are the so-called Cecilians, or Apoda, which have the habits 
and, in some degree, the appearance of large worms. Special 
specimens exhibit the structure of the extinct Labyrinthodonts, 
in which the hinder half of the skull is completely roofed over 
by bone ; while the teeth in many cases exhibit a curious in- 
folded arrangement from which the group derives its name. 
Bay V. The last bay (No. Y.) on the west side of the Central Hall is 
Fishes^^ °^ devoted to the display of the form and structure of Fishes. 
The wall-case on the left side of this bay exhibits the external 
form of several characteristic types of Fishes, such as the Pike, 
Cod, Turbot, Dog-fish, and Skate, with the names of the various 
fins affixed. A striking specimen is the skeleton — mainly carti- 
laginous — of the Great Blue Shark {Carcliarodon rondeletii) 
(fig. 9), which occupies the greater portion of this case. It 
should be noted that, as in all Sharks and Eays, the upper jaws 
do not correspond with those of the higher Vertebrates ; and 
