IXTEODUCTORY COLLECTION. 
23 
epitome or index of the main collections in the galleries ; but 
the name does not exactly express what it has developed into. 
It is really more like the general introduction, which almost 
always precedes the systematic portion of treatises on any 
branch of natural liistory. As mentioned before (p. 17), this 
collection is at present far from complete ; in fact, only in its 
infancy ; and as nothing exactly like it has been exhibited in 
any public museum before, it may, as its formation goes on, be 
subject to much modification and improvement ; but it is hoped 
that it may ultimately serve as a guide for the formation of 
educational biological museums elsewhere. The space being 
strictly limited, the number of illustrative specimens is neces- 
sarily restricted, probably to the advantage of the student, at 
all events in the earlier part of his career. In examining this 
collection the visitor should follow each case in the usual order 
of reading a book, from left to right, and should carefully study 
all the printed explanatory labels, to which the specimens are 
intended to serve as illustrations. 
The bays on the west side (left-hand on entering the hall) are 
devoted to the Vertebrated Animals, or those possessing a 
"backbone." In ISTos. I. and II. are shown the characters of 
the Mammalian modifications of this type. The wall-cases of 
'No. I. are already nearly filled Avith specimens showing the 
bony framework (internal skeleton) of Mammals. 
In the first case (south side of the recess) will be seen a Bay I. 
complete skeleton of a good example of the class — a large ^ammaV^ 
monkey, with all the bones separated, laid out on a tablet, and 
with their names affixed to them. Below it is a skeleton of the 
same animal articulated, and with the bones in their natural 
relation to each other, and also named. By examining these 
two specimens, a fair idea may be obtained of the general frame- 
work of the body of animals of this class. In other parts of the 
case are placed examples of modifications of the skeleton to 
suit different conditions of life. 
1. Man, showing a skeleton adopted for the upright position. 
2. A bat, or flying mammal, in which the fore-limbs are 
converted into wings by the great elongation of the fingers, 
which support a web of skin stretched between them. 
3. A sloth, in which the ends of all the limbs are reduced to 
