SECOND FLOOR. 
65 
bodies at lengtli became irresistible, and a description is given 
of tlie striking circumstances attending their fall, of their general 
characters, and of their chemical composition : illnstrative speci- 
mens, collected together for easy reference, will be found in one 
of the cases. It is also shown that meteorites are closely related, 
not only to the ordinary shooting stars, but also to comets, and 
probably to the nebulae and fixed stars. 
Second Floor. 
The upper floor of the East wing is devoted entirely to the 
Department of Botany. 
The Collections of this Department consist of two portions, Bo anical 
the one open to the public and consisting of specimens suit- ^^^^^^T- 
able for exhibition, and intended to illustrate (the various 
groups of the Vegetable Kingdom and the broad facts on 
which the Natural System of the classification of plants is 
based ; the other set apart for the use of persons engaged in the 
scientific study of plants. 
The natural system of classification is followed in the exhibi- System of 
tion cases in the public gallery. The series of specimens Classification, 
begins with the Natural Order Ranunculacese, and the Orders 
are represented in this and the following cases by dried 
specimens of the plants themselves, coloured drawings, fruits, 
and prepared sections of the woods. Diagrams are employed 
to indicate the characters in the flowers on which the 
grouping is based. The use of the same colour for homologous 
structures throughout the diagrams readily*conveys to the eye 
the points of agreement or difference on which the classification 
rests. The geological history of each Natural Order is indicated 
on a table of the earth's strata ; and its present distribution on 
the surface of the earth is given on a small map of the world. 
Descriptive labels give particular information respecting each 
specimen. 
The dicotyledonous plants extend Jto the fifth case on the 
left side of the gallery, and are followed by the ]\Ionocotyle - 
donous Orders, which fill a portion of the last case on tlie same 
