38 
WEST WING. 
at right angles with it, are a number of galleries containing other 
portions of the zoological collections. 
In the corridor which leads from the Bird Gallery into the 
Fish Gallery a large table-case is placed, containing a selection 
of the most important forms of Batrachians, which are divided 
into such as possess a tail — Salamanders and Newts, and into 
those without tails — Frogs and Toads. These animals live 
during some period of their existence in the water, and breathe 
by gills, and are therefore very closely allied to fishes. 
Fish GaUery. I. The Tish Gallery, which is nearest to the Central Hall, 
contains the exhibited portion of the collection of Fishes, the 
greater number of which, preserved in spirit, are placed for 
safety in a detached building behind the Museum, where they 
are available for study under suitable regulations. The gallery 
contains stuffed examples and skeletons of all the most remark- 
able members of the class, the peculiarities of which are 
pointed out in a special guide-book.* 
The wall-cases on the west side of the room (right on entering) 
and at its end contain the fishes with completely osseous 
skeletons, a division to which belong by far the greater part of 
the species now inhabiting the waters of the globe. Large and 
remarkable examples are placed in separate cases opposite to 
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 
* * Guide to the Reptiles and Fishes.' Price sixpence. 
