10 
ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS. 
[upper 
EASTEEN ZOOLOGICAL GALLERY. 
The Wall Cases contain the general collection of Birds ; the 
larger Table Cases contain the collection of Shells of Molluscous 
animals ; on the top of the Wall Cases is a series of horns of different 
kinds of Deer and Rhinoceros. 
The Wall Cases on the west side of the room, or to the left 
on entering from the Mammalia Saloon, contain (1-26) the 
diurnal and nocturnal Birds of Prey. Cases 27-42 contain the 
wide-gaped (fissirostral) Perching Birds ; Cases 43-47, the slender- 
billed or tenuirostral Birds; Cases 48-61, the tooth-billed (denti- 
rostral) Passerine Birds; Cases 62-73, the strong-billed Coiiiros- 
tral Birds; Cases 74-83, the climbing or Scansorial Birds. These 
are all on the Vv'est side of the room. 
On the east side of the room, Cases 84-106 contain the Gallina- 
ceous Birds; Cases 107-134, the Wading Birds: and Cases 135-166 
the Web-footed Birds. 
Cases 1-26. Diurnal Birds of Prey. Some of the most interesting 
species are, the Condor, or Great Vulture of the Andes, which soars 
higher than any other bird ; the Turkey Buzzards, or Carrion Vultures, 
which clear away putrifying carcases, and are the most useful scaven- 
gers in the warmer parts of America ; the Eagles, the most formidable 
of which are the Harpy of South America and the Wedge-tailed Eagle 
of Australia; the Kites; the true Falcons, which are the most courageous, 
in proportion to their size, of all the Birds of Prey, and some of which 
are used in Falconry ; the Secretary Bird of South Africa, with its long 
legs, which kills venomous snakes, and derives its name from the 
plumes, like pens, on the side of the head. These obtain their food 
during the day. 
Of the nocturnal Birds of Prey, m^y be noticed the great Hawk and 
Eagle Owls ; the Snowy Owl of North Europe and America. The 
long feathers of the eared Owls must assist in collecting the slightest 
sound ; the birds themselves glide noiselessly through the air. 
Cases 36-83. The Perching Birds, divided into five great sections. 
Of the wide-gaped section, Cases 36, 37, may be specified the Goat- 
suckers, which fly about at night, and live on moths and beetles ; the 
Trinidad Goatsucker, or Fat-bird, is found in caves in South America; 
the fat of the young is used in cookery. The Leona Goatsucker of 
West Africa, with very long feathers appended to its wings, so that it 
looks like three birds when it flies. Case 38 contains the Swallows and 
Swifts, which pursue flies on the wing; their wings and tail are very 
long, their legs very short. The Esculent Swallow constructs its nest of 
a substance which when dissolved in soups is esteemed a great luxury 
ill China and elsewhere in the East. Case 39. The Todies, Rollers, 
Broadbills, and Motmots, living chiefly on insects and fruits; the 
plumage of many of these is very showy. Case 40. The Trogons, living 
in low damp woods in the tropics, particularly of the New World ; one 
of the most conspicuous is the long-feathered Quezal, a sacred bird 
