WEST WING. 
29 
collections are preserved in the adjoining gallery, but his 
unrivalled library of works on natural history, also bequeathed to 
the Museum, remains in the old building at Bloomsbury, in the 
entrance hall of which the statue, erected by public subscription 
in 1826, stood, until it was removed to its present situation by 
direction of the Trustees in the year 1886. 
In the east corridor is placed at present the collection of 
humming-birds {Trocliilidm) arranged and mounted by the late 
Mr. John Gould, and purchased by the Museum after his death Gould Collec- 
in 1881. The resplendent colours and infinite varieties of form g^^ing. 
presented by these fairy-like objects must always excite feelings Birds, 
of admiration and wonder in all who gaze upon them. A special 
guide-book, pointing out the most interesting features of this 
collection, with a general account of the geographical distribu- 
tion and mode of life of the humming-birds, has been published 
by the Trustees.* 
WEST WING. 
The whole of the west wing of the building is devoted to the 
collections of recent Zoology. 
(A) Geound Flooe. 
The ground floor is entered from the west side (left hand) of Bird Gallery, 
the Central Hall, near the main entrance of the building. The 
long gallery extending the entire length of the front of the 
wing is assigned to the exhibited collection of birds, the study 
series of the same group, being kept in cabinets in a room 
behind. 
The wall-cases contain mounted specimens of all the principal Systematic 
species arranged in systematic order, beginning with the vultures, ^^i^g^ggg 
on the left hand on entering, and ending with the penguins on 
the right. The arrangement adopted is that of the Catalogue, 
now in course of publication, in a series of octavo volumes. 
In the middle of the room and in the spaces between the wall- 
cases are placed various isolated groups of particular interest, 
* * A guide to the Gould Collection of Humming-lirds.' Price t\vo^:ence. 
