GROUND FLOOE. 
33 
the wall-cases ; and as the colours of fishes are very fugitive, and 
disappear more or less completely after death, some of the stuffed 
examples have been painted from life, to show the extraordinary 
brilliancy of many of the tropical kinds. The fishes allied to the 
Perch (case 1), Gurnard (case 8), Mackerel (case 10), Sword-fish 
(case 13), Wrasse (case 14), Codfish and Plaice (case 16), Catfish 
(case 17), Salmon (case 19), Pike (case 20), Carp and Herring 
(case 21), Eel (case 23), are represented by numerous examples, 
the last of which is that, at least in external form, most 
remarkable fish, the Sunfish or Orthagoriscus. 
The eastern or left side of the room is devoted to the exhibi- 
tion of a very different division of fishes, which was much more 
numerously represented in ancient times than at present. The 
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 Pays, including 
the singular Hammer-headed Shark, and the Saw-fish (Fristis) 
which has a long projecting flattened snout, with a row of teeth 
arranged something like those of a saw on each side. 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, is a full-grown example of the Great Basking Shark 
(Selache 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. 
II. A sm.all gallery is devoted to the group of Articulata Insect Gallery 
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 
who studies them a good 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 
