38 
CENTEAL HALL. 
each leading to one of the corridors which flank the west and 
east sides of the hall, and by which access is gained to the 
galleries of the first floor of the building. At the southern end 
of these corridors a staircase from each, raised on an arch which 
spans the hall, join to form a central flight leading to the second 
or uppermost floor. On the landing at the top of this flight 
statue of is placed a marble statue by Chantrey of Sir Joseph Banks 
Banks. (Iq^ 1743, d. 1820), the munificent patron of science and scientific 
men, who for forty-one years presided over the Eoyal Society, and 
was an active Trustee of the Museum. His splendid botanical 
collections are preserved in the adjoining gallery, but his 
unrivalled library of works on natural history, also bequeathed to 
the Museum, remains in the old building at Bloomsbury, in the 
entrance hall of which the statue, erected by public subscription 
in 1826, stood, until it was removed to its present situation by 
direction of the Trustees in the year 1886. 
The west corridor contains a portion of the series of British 
birds with their nests (see p. 40), for which there is not room 
in the Bird Gallery on the ground floor. The specimens 
placed here belong to the smaller kinds, being mostly of the 
Perching or Passerine order. 
GoTild In the east corridor is placed at present the collection of 
Ht^^^ °^ Humming-birds {Trocliilidm) arranged and mounted by the late 
Birds. Mr. John Gould, and purchased for the Museum after his death 
in 1881. The resplendent colours and singular varieties of form 
presented by these fairy-like objects must always excite feelings 
of admiration and wonder in all who gaze upon them. 
WEST WI]!^G. 
The whole of the west wing of the building is devoted to the 
collections of recent Zoology. 
(A) Ground Floor. 
Bird GaUery. The ground floor is entered from the west side (left hand) of 
the Central Hall, near the main entrance of the buildinix. The 
long gallery extending the entire length of the front of the 
wing is assigned to the exhibited collection of birds, the study 
