BKITISH ZOOLOGY. 
that on the right, the Insectivora (Hedgehog, Mole and Shrews) 
and the Bats. 
I^earer the middle of the room is a larger case, divided into 
an upper and a lower compartment, the former containing the 
Amphibia (Frogs, Toads, and N"ewts) in spirit, the latter the 
few species of Eeptiles (Snakes and Lizards) found in our 
islands. The distinctive characters of the three snakes, the 
Common or Einged Snake {Tropidonaiiis natrix), and the 
Smooth Snake {Coronella austriaca), both harmless, and the 
venomous Yiper (Vipera herics), can be made out from the 
specimens, although the vividness of their natural colours is 
very difficult to preserve when long exposed to the light. 
The far more numerous birds and fishes occupy the two sides 
of the series of upright cases, which fill the west and east ends 
of the room, and project on each side so as to make a partial 
division across it. Among the birds will be seen a specimen of 
the extinct Great Auk (Alca imjpennis), of which the Museum 
possesses a second example in the Bird Gallery (p. 34). The 
largest specimens of fishes are placed on stands out of the cases, 
near the middle of the room being a Greenland Shark [Loemargiis 
horealis), fifteen feet long, which was captured near Anstruther, 
on the east coast of Scotland, May 18th, 1878. Next to this 
in size are the Porbeagle (Lamna cormibica) and the Fox 
Shark or Thresher {Alopecias vulpes). 
The cases occupying the northern section of the room (near 
the windows) are devoted to the Invertebrata. The wall-case 
on the west (left) side contains the larger specimens of MoUusca, 
Tunicata, Annelida, Echinodermata, and Coelentrata in spirit, 
including some remarkably fine specimens of an Alcyonarian 
called Funimlina quadrangularis, one of which has a long- armed 
star-fish (Astronyx loveni) twined around it. These were dredged 
up in the Firth of Lorn, west coast of Scotland. The wall- case 
on the east (right) side contains a series of nests of hornets^. 
wasps, bees, ants, &c. In the intermediate table- cases are 
arranged tlie collection of dried specimens of British Mollusca, 
Insects, Crustaceans, Polyzoa, Sponges, &c. The cases beneath 
the windows of the north w\all are entirely devoted to the 
exhibition of British Echinoderms, star-fishes, sea-urchins, &c. 
iForms of Avhicli the characters are difficult to j)reserve are 
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