FLOOR.] 
MAMMALIA SALOON. 
the Polar Bear, the tyrant of the Arctic seas, lives chiefly on seals 
and dead whales. The tropical Bears have generally short fur and 
long tongues. Most of the Bears can climb well, and balance them- 
selves on the hind legs with ease. The American Raccoon has been 
called the " Washer " from its habit of dipping its food in water before 
eating it. Cases 51-52. The Coati, with its long snout, which is used 
for grubbing in the ground ; the Ailurus of Nepal, one of the most 
brilliantly coloured of quadrupeds. Here are placed the Insectivora, 
such as the Moles, with their shovel-like fore-feet, which they use for 
digging; the Golden Moles of South Africa, with iridescent fur; the 
Tenrecs of Madagascar and the Mauritius, which sleep during the 
intense heats of summer ; the Hedgehogs ; the Ptilocercus of Borneo^ 
with long feathered tail ; theTupaiaof Java; the long-nosed Elephant- 
shrews of Africa ; the little sharp-nosed Shrews which live on insects 
and worms; the Gymnura of Malacca, the largest of the group of 
Insectivores. 
Cases 53-64. The various kinds of Marsupial Animals, character- 
ized by the pouch in which the young are nurtured ; they are only 
found in Australasia and America: among them may be noticed the 
Petauri or Flying Phalangers ; the Cuscus, natives of New Guinea and 
the adjacent islands, with prehensile tails ; the dwarf Opossum Mouse 
and curious-footed Tarsipes of King George's Sound. The Koala, 
called by the Australian colonists the Monkey; the Phalangers; the 
Kangaroos, with large tails and long hind legs, enabling them to make 
long flying leaps ; the Rock Kangaroo, and the Tree Kangaroo. The 
Bettongia, one of which makes a curious nest; the tail-less burrowing 
Wombat ; the Dasyure or Australian Devil, and the voracious Tas- 
manian Wolf, most destructive to the sheep of the colonist ; the 
pretty-banded Myrmecobius. The Opossums of the New World, 
some of which feign death when in danger ; and the little Philander, 
the young of which climb on their mother's back and are carried by 
her with their tails round that of the parent. 
Case 65. The Seals ; the furs of which are used in making articles 
of dress. 
Cases 66-81 contain the Glires, or Gnawing animals, the majority 
of which are small-sized. Amongst the more remarkable may be indi- 
cated the Capybara of America, the largest of the group, almost as 
aquatic in its habits as the trowel-tailed Beaver, which is still found 
in North America, but very rare in Europe ; the Coypu and Ondatra, 
whose furs are used in manufactures. Cases 70-72. The Porcupines, 
formidably armed with quills. Some of these live among trees and 
have long prehensile tails. Cases 71, 72, The Agoutis and Pacas, 
representing the Hares in the New World. Cases 73-75. The Hares. 
Case 76. The Jerboas, some of which take flying leaps ; the Peru- 
vian Chinchilla, with its delicate fur; the Dormice. Cases 77-80. 
The Squirrels, with their long bushy tails, chiefly living on trees ; 
the Flying Squirrels, which can vault from tree to tree, assisted by 
the expansion of the skin of the sides. The Marmots, which pass 
the winter in a lethargic state ; the Prairie-Dog ; the Mole Rats and 
