44 
WEST WING. 
majority have a cartilaginous skeleton. To this division belong 
the Gar-pike of North America (case 28), the Mud-fishes 
{Dipnoi) of South America, Africa and Australia (case 28), the 
Sturgeons (case 29), and finally the Sharks and Eays, including 
the singular Hammer-headed Shark, and the Saw-fish (Pristis), 
which has a long projecting flattened snout, with a row of teeth 
arranged something like those of a saw on each side. Of this 
form, a remarkably large specimen from the coast of British 
Guiana (Pristis perrotteti) is exhibited. Another very small 
division of fishes comprises the Lampreys, of which a few 
specimens are shown in case 44. 
The largest specimen of the class, placed near the centre of 
the room, suspended from the roof, is a full-grown example of 
the Great Basking Shark (SelacJie maxima) which was captured 
on the 2nd of March, 1875, near Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. 
Its length is twenty- eight feet, but, as the minute size of the 
teeth indicate, it is a comparatively harmless animal. Beyond 
it is a young specimen of a shark (RJiinodon typims) which 
when adult is said to attain a still larger size. It inhabits the 
Indian and Pacific Oceans. In the passage between the Fish 
Gallery and the Bird Gallery a large table-case is placed con- 
taining a selection of the most important forms of Batrachians, 
which are divided into such as possess a tail — Salamanders and 
ISTewts, and into those without tails — Frogs and Toads. These 
animals live during some period of their existence in the water, 
when they breathe by gills, and are therefore very closely allied 
to fishes. 
Insect Gallery. II. A small gallery is devoted to the group of Articulata 
or Invertebrated animals with jointed limbs, as Insects, Spiders, 
Myriopods, and Crustacea. In the wall-cases are many curious 
examples of nests, and of specimens illustrating the ravages of 
destructive insects, and also some of their economic products. 
Selected examples of the different groups of insects are exhibited 
in systematic order in the table-cases, so as to give the visitor 
wlio studies them a general idea of all the most interesting 
forms and of their classification. Unfortunately, it is impossible 
to exhibit many of the most beautiful and rare species, owing to 
the deteriorating effects of continued exposure to light upon 
tlieir colours. The main collection of insects is, on this account 
