72 
FOSSIL MAMMAL GALLERY. 
is exhibited in a glass case near the Megatherium. Close by is 
a portion of the skin of one of these animals ( Neomylodon listai), 
from a cave in Patagonia, showing the hair, and also the nodules 
of bone with which the inner surface is studded. Not far off is 
the Glyptodon, a huge extinct Armadillo, enclosed in a 
solid barrel-like bony case. As these animals far surpassed in 
size their diminutive existing representatives, so the gigantic 
Marsupials of the corresponding period in Australia (Pleistocene, 
or latest Tertiary), the Diprotodon and Nototlierium, remains 
of which are shown in this room, greatly exceeded any 
of the species now existing on that continent. On the other 
Fig. 46. — Side View of Skull op Samotherium hoissieri, a Giraffe-like 
Euminant from the Pliocene of Samos. 
hand, all the mammals of the earlier geological periods 
of which remains are known, are of diminutive size, as seen 
in the very interesting series, mostly from the Purbeck (Upper 
Oolite) beds of Dorset and Stonesfield slate (Great Oolite) 
of Oxfordshire, exhibited in the centre window-case on the 
east side of the room. 
Extinct Birds. south side of this room (right on entering) is chiefly 
devoted to the remains of extinct birds, including the famous 
Lizard-tailed Bird (Archceopteryx) of the Solenhofen beds of 
Bavaria (fig. 47), the oldest known member of the class, presenting 
many reptilian characters, but with well-developed featliers on 
