48 
EAST WING. 
species now existing on that continent. On the other hand, all 
the mammals of the earliest geological periods of which remains 
are known, are of diminutive size, as seen in the very interest- 
ing series, mostly from the Purbeck (upper oolite) beds of 
Dorset, and Stonesfield (great oolite) of Oxfordshire, exhibited 
in one of the table-cases on the north side of the room. 
Extinct Birds. The south side of this room (right on entering) is chiefly 
devoted to the remains of extinct birds, including the famous 
Lizard-tailed Bird {Archceopteryx) of the Solenhofen beds of 
Bavaria, the oldest known member of the class, presenting 
many reptilian characters, but with well-developed feathers on 
the wings and tail, the impressions of which are beautifully 
preserved in the specimen. A series of skeletons of the Moa 
or Dinornis of N'ew Zealand, a bird in which no trace of a 
wing has been discovered, show the diversity of size of different 
members of the group, some far exceeding any existing ostrich 
and others scarcely larger than a good- sized turkey. Some 
of these remains are so recent as still to be covered with dried 
skin, and even feathers. Several eggs are also shown ; but, large 
as these are, they are greatly exceeded in size by those of the 
JEpyornis from Madagascar, in the south-east corner of the room. 
Extinct The long gallery north of the mammalian saloon contains a 
Keptiies. assemblage of Eeptilian remains. The south side is devoted 
to the Great Sea-Lizards (Plesiosauria and Ichtliyosauria), in- 
cluding the collection described and figured in Mr. Hawkins's 
Book of the Great Sea-Dragons. Eanged in the cases on the 
north side are remains of the gigantic Dinosauria, which far 
exceeded in size any other land-animals. At the eastern end 
of the gallery are the Fterosauria, or Flying Eeptiles. 
Extinct 0^ galleries leading backwards from this, the one nearest 
Fishes. t-he centre of the building is devoted to the collection of fossil 
Fishes, an account of which has been published in a special 
guide.* The next contains the Cephalopods, a group of animals 
abounding in extinct forms, of which the Belemnites and 
Ammonites are the best known. The form and structure of 
their nearest living representatives, the various species of Cuttle- 
fishes, Squids, Argonauts and jSTautilus are illustrated by models 
* * Guide to the Collection of Fossil Fishes in the Department of Geology 
and Palaeontology.' Price fourpence. 
