38 
CENTRAL HALL. 
living 
animals placed on the 
British 
Bntterflies 
and Uoths. 
Egg Cabinets 
Statne of 
Darwin, 
Statue of 
Banks. 
shown by drawings from the 
walls. 
Two cabinets placed against pillars facing the centre of the 
room are devoted to a special collection of British Butterflies 
and Moths {Lepido^ptera) with their larvae, which were all 
prepared by Lord Walsingham, and presented to the Museum 
by him in 1887. The caterpillars are mounted on models 
of the plants upon which they feed, and are remarkable for 
the life-like appearance they present. 
Opposite to these are two cabinets containing a nearly com- 
plete series of British Birds' eggs. In these will be seen 
specimens illustrating the principal variations in the eggs 
of both resident species and occasional visitors. Especial 
attention is directed to the series of Cuckoos' eggs, with the 
accompanying clutches of the eggs of the foster-parents. 
Staircase. 
On the first landing of the great staircase, facing the centre of 
the hall, is placed the seated marble statue of Charles Darwin 
(b. 1809, d. 1882), to whose labours the study of natural history 
owes so vast an impulse. The statue was executed by Sir J. E. 
Boehm, K.A., as part of the " Darwin Memorial " raised by public 
subscription. It was unveiled and placed under the care of the 
Trustees of the Museum on the 9th of June, 1885, when an 
address was delivered on behalf of the Memorial Committee, by 
the Chairman, Professor Huxley, P.E.S., to which His Eoyal 
Highness the Prince of Wales, as representing the Trustees, 
replied. 
Above the first landing the staircase divides into two flights, 
each leading to one of the corridors which flank the west and 
cast sides of the hall, and by which access is gained to the 
galleries of the first floor of the building. At the southern end 
of these corridors a staircase from each, raised on an arch which 
spans the hall, join to form a central flight leading to the second 
or uppermost floor. On the landing at the top of this flight 
is placed a marble statue by Chantrey of Sir Joseph Banks 
(b. 1743, d. 1820), the munificent patron of science and scientific 
men, who for forty-one years presided over the Eoyal Society, and 
was an active Trustee of tlic Museum. His splendid botanical 
