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PREFACE 
One of the large north galleries approached from the Bird Gallery 
is devoted to the exhibition of the extensive Class of Mollusca. 
Specimens of the types of all the principal divisions of this Class 
are exhibited, either entire and preserved in spirit, or as models. 
However, as not the animals, but their shells have always been a 
favourite object of study, and a popular source of pleasure to 
collectors, the exhibition of the species of shells has been made as 
complete as the space of this Gallery admitted. It has thus proved 
adequate for the requirements of the majority of visitors and students 
who consult this Collection. A separate series of British Shells is 
exhibited in some small table-cases along the west wall. 
This Gallery also contains the exhibited series of Polyzoa, 
Brachiopoda, and Tunicata. 
The Starfish Gallery, so called from one of the best-known types 
of the Echinoclerma, contains an exhibition of the animals of this 
Class, as well as of the somewhat heterogeneous assemblage of 
creatures which are comprised under the popular name of Worms 
(Vermes). These animals possess greater attraction to students of 
Natural History than to the general public, and many, from their 
small size or the soft nature of their body, are not suitable for 
exhibition. Therefore no attempt has been made to show more than 
