54 
EAST WIXG. 
Historical The fifth gallery is set apart for the reception of certain 
CoUections. gpecial collections of historical interest, which, from the circum- 
stances under which they were formed, or came into possession 
of the Museum, or from their containing a large number of 
types described and figured in standard monographs, it has 
not been thought desirable to break up and disperse among the 
general collection. The principal of these are, the original 
collection formed by William Smith, the pioneer of geology 
in this country, the Searles Wood Collection of Crag MoUusca, 
the Edwards Collection of Eocene MoUusca, the Davidson 
Collection of Brachiopoda, the types of Sowerby's 'Mineral 
Conchology,' and lastly, but not least in interest, the specimens 
which, belonging to the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, form 
the nucleus of the whole Mus«um. 
In the wall-cases on the west side of this gallery is exhibited 
a stratigraphical collection, showing the most characteristic 
Palaeontology, rock-specimens, often with their included organic remains, re- 
presenting the various geological formations of the British Isles, 
arranged in the order of their sequence in time, commencing 
near the entrance door with the most recent, and gradually 
passing down to the most ancient fossil-bearing strata. Along 
the top of the case is displayed a running section of all the 
sedimentary rocks of England in the order of their succession, 
each bed being distinctively coloured, and named to correspond 
with the actual specimens placed beneath. On the east side 
are exhibited additional specimens of marine reptiles from the 
Lias and a series of foot-prints of reptiles from the Trias of 
ISr. America and the ISTew Eed Sandstone of England, &c. 
stratigraphi- 
cal collection 
of British 
EiEST Elooe. 
Gallery of The gallery on this floor, entered from the south end of the 
Minerals. ^^^^^ corridor of the hall, contains the extensive Mineral Collec- 
tions, a full description of which will be found in a special 
guide.* 
Introductory Entering the gallery the visitor will find, in the first window- 
CoUections. 
* * Introduction to the Study of Minerals, with a Guide to the Mineral 
Gallery.' Price sixpence. 
I 
