BOTANY. 
27 
The table-case in this bay, as mentioned above (p. 12), is 
devoted to the illustration of Mimicry " and analogous pheno- 
mena. Many of the examples shoM^n occur among insects, but 
a harmless snake, and a venomous species it mimics, are among 
the series. Yery striking is a coloured sketch showing a group 
of red and black caterpillars aggregated side by side on the stem 
of a plant so as to present a remarkable similarity to a flower 
or seed-capsule. 
Bays VIII. to X., on the eastern side of the Central Hall, are Bays VIII. 
intended to illustrate the morphology of the vegetable kingdom, *° ^" 
In Bay YIII. are illustrations of the general characters of the 
lowest plants or Cryptograms, as represented by Algas, Funguses, 
Lichens, Mosses, &c. These are, however, at present only 
arranged in a temporary manner, and may accordingly be 
passed over without further mention. 
In the middle of this bay is placed a section of a very large Section of 
Wellingtonia or Big Tree " {Sequoia gigantea), which was cut Sequoia 
down in 1892 near Fresno, in California. It is about fifteen 
feet in diameter, and perfectly sound to the centre, showing 
distinctly 1,335 rings of annual growth, which afford exact 
evidence of the age of the tree. An instantaneous photograph, 
taken while the tree was being felled, is placed near it, and shows 
its general appearance when living. It height was 276 feet. 
The last two bays are devoted to the great group of Phanerogams 
or seed-plants, where, besides the distinction of stem, leaf, and 
root, and the development of vascular tissue, we find a structure 
unknown in the Cryptogams, viz., the seed, w^ithin which the 
embryo, or commencement of a new individual, is developed and 
protected by one or more envelopes (seed-coats), consisting of 
tissues of the mother plant. 
The left-hand portion of Bay IX. contains specimens of the Gymnospems 
smaller division of seed-plants, the Gymnosperms, in which the cotyledons, 
pollen falls directly on the naked ovule. In the wall-case the Bay IX. 
upper row of specimens illustrates the form of the leaf, while 
the lower deals with the stem and root. The internal structure 
of these is demonstrated by means of large sections. Important 
details in structure form the subject of the drawings in the 
upper part of the case. In the left-hand side of the central case 
are specimens of the flower and fruit. Tlie Cycads are of 
