GROUND FLOOR. 
31 
that were present round the individual nest. When it has been 
possible, the actual rocks, trees or grass, have been preserved, 
and where these were of a perishable nature they were accurately 
modelled from nature. Far more care has also been taken in 
preserving the natural form and characteristic attitude of the 
birds than was formerly the case in museums, as a large 
number of the old specimens in the wall-cases unhappily 
testify. This beautiful and instructive series is still in process of 
formation. Owing to want of space in this gallery, the nests 
of the Perching or Passerine birds are placed for the present in 
the west corridor of the Central Hall. 
In the " Pavilion," or room at the further end of the gallery, 
are placed the specimens of the peculiar division of birds, called 
Batitce, from the flat or raft-like character of the breast-bone, 
and which, owing to the rudimentary character of their wings 
have not the power of raising themselves off the ground in flight. 
They include the largest existing birds, the Ostriches, Emus and 
Cassowaries, as well as the small Kiwi or Apteryx of l^ew 
Zealand. 
Parallel with the bird gallery to the north side (right on enter- 
ing), and approached by several passages, is a long narrow gallery 
containing the collection of corals and of sponges and allied forms. Coral Gallery. 
Commencing at the eastern end, some of the lowest forms of 
animal life are exhibited in the wall- case and table-cases ; they 
belong to a group called Foraminifera, and, for the greater part, 
are so minute, that they can be studied with the microscope 
only ; their structure is therefore illustrated by means of models 
and figures. The next divisions of the gallery are occupied by the 
sponges ; most conspicuous among them is a series showing the 
variations of the common bath-sponge (cases land 2), the beauti- 
ful siliceous Euplcctella or Venus' flower basket, and the Japanese 
Hyalonema or glass rope sponge (case 3), and the gigantic 
EhajMojyhora or Neptune's goblet, of which several specimens 
are placed on separate stands. 
Nearly the whole of the remainder of the gallery is given up 
to the Corals, showing the immense variety of form and colour 
of these animals, some presenting a marvellous resemblance to 
vegetable growths. The part exhibited is merely the dried 
hard, horny or calcareous basis or supporting skeleton either of 
