GEOUND FLOOE. 
43 
the corridor connecting the Fish and Eeptile Galleries, in 
which representatives of the Carp and Herring families are 
exhibited. 
The eastern or left side of the room is devoted to the exhibi- 
tion of a very different division of fishes, which was much more 
numerously represented in ancient times than at present. The 
majority have a cartilaginous skeleton. To this division belong 
the Gar-pike of E'orth America (case 28), the Mud-fishes 
{Dipnoi) of South America, Africa and Australia (case 28), the 
Sturgeons (case 29), and finally the Sharks and Kays, including 
the singular Hammer-headed Shark, and the Saw-fish (Fristis), 
which has a long projecting flattened snout, with a row of teeth 
arranged something like those of a saw on each side. Of this 
form, a remarkably large specimen from the coast of British 
Guiana (Fristis perrotUti) is exhibited. Another A^ery small 
division of fishes comprises the Lampreys, of which a few 
specimens are shown in case 44. 
The largest specimen of the class, placed near the centre of 
the room, is a full-grown example of the Great Basking Shark 
{SelacliG maxima) which was captured on the 2nd of March, 
1875, near Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. Its length is twenty- 
eight feet, but, as the minute size of the teeth indicate, it is a 
comparatively harmless animal. Beyond it is a young specimen 
of a shark {FJiinoclon typicus) which when adult is said to 
attain a still larger size. It inhabits the Indian and Pacific 
Oceans. 
II, A small gallery is devoted to the group of Aeticulata insect Gallery, 
or Invertebrated animals with jointed limbs, as Insects, Spiders, 
Myriopods, and Crustacea. In the wall-cases are many curious 
examples of nests, and of specimens illustrating the ravages of 
destructive insects, and also some of their economic products. 
Selected examples of the different groups of insects are exhibited 
in systematic order in the table-cases, so as to give the \isitor 
who studies them a general idea of all the most interesting 
forms and of their classification. Unfortunately, it is impossible 
to exhibit many of the most beautiful and rare species, owing to 
the deteriorating effects of continued exposure to light upon 
their colours. The main collection of insects is, on this account, 
and because of the immense space it would otherwise occupy, 
