36 
CENTRAL HALL. 
the Atlantic, and doubts as to the authenticity of some of the 
recorded occurrences make the list rather a vague and uncertain 
one. The constitution of the marine fauna in the same way is 
continually liable to undergo fluctuations. 
Slight but permanent variations from the continental type 
can be recognised in a few of our indigenous species, the 
most marked among vertebrated animals being the Irish 
Stoat (Putorius hibemicus), the common Eed Grouse (Lagopus 
scoticus), and several species of fresh-water fishes, mostly belong- 
ing to the genus Salmo. Some of the latter have an extremely 
local distribution, being only found in some small groups of 
mountain lakes. Many species, or at all events well-marked 
varieties, of insects, and a few land and fresh- water molluscs, 
have at present been only found within the limits of our islands. 
The upright cases on the south side of the room, between the 
two entrances, contain the larger mammals which still inhabit 
the British Islands, except the Cetacea ("Whales and Dolphins), 
which on account of their size are placed in the gallery appro- 
priated to the general collection of animals of that order (see 
p. 47). Of the Seals, but two species are really indigenous, the 
Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) and the Great Grey Seal (Hali- 
chcerus grypus) ; but other species, as the Einged and the Harp 
Seal of the Northern Seas, are exhibited in their capacity of 
occasional but rare visitors to our shores. Of the land Carnivora, 
specimens are seen of the Wild Cat, the Fox, the Badger, Otter, 
Marten, Polecat, Weasel, and Stoat or Ermine, which only 
occasionally (as in a beautiful example shown) assumes the 
white colour in England, though this change is the rule in 
countries with severer winter climates. The Eodents are 
represented by the Common and the Variable or Mountain 
Hare, which turns white in winter in the Highlands of Scotland, 
and by the Babbit. Of the Euminants, a specimen of the wild 
White Bull of Chillingham Park, Northumberland, stands be- 
tween the cases, and there are stuffed specimens and antlers 
(above the cases) of the Eed, Eoe, and Fallow Deer ; the latter, 
however, an introduced species, now naturalised in our parks. 
The smaller mammals are exhibited in two square cases 
standing out in the body of the room, that on the left containing 
the Eodents (Squirrel, Dormouse, Voles, Mice, and Eats), and 
