THE GALLERIES. 
139 
GALLERIES. 
The two Galleries, called respectively the Lower and the 
Upper, are devoted to the exhibition of an extensive collection 
of British Fossils, obtained for the most part during the progress 
of the Geological Survey. The fossils are exhibited partly in 
a series of Wall Cases and partly in the small Flat Cases resting 
on the balustrade of the Galleries. It should be explained that 
under the Flat Cases are glass- topped drawers, which add 
greatly to the available space, and may be pulled out by the 
visitor desirous of inspecting the specimens which they contain. 
In the following description the Flat -Cases are distinguished by 
numbers in thin type (1), and the Wall Cases by thick type (1). 
In examining the Wall Cases it should be noticed that the 
numbering, unlike that of the minerals and rock specimens, 
proceeds from the lower part of the cases, the bottom shelf 
being always regarded as the first. The upper parts of the 
Wall Cases, too high for the convenient display of specimens, are 
appropriated to a series of diagrams of Fossils, 
The study of Fossils is termed Palaeontology, or the science of 
ancient life, the name being derived from the Greek, palaios, 
ancient ; onta, beings ; and logos, a discourse. 
To assist the student of palaeontology, who will probably 
at first find so large a collection rather bewildering, the 
characteristic fossils in each formation are indicated by red spots. 
The green spots seen here and there on certain fossils indicate 
that the specimens so marked have been figured. 
The fossils are arranged in stratigraphical sequence, com- 
mencing with the organic remains found in the oldest fossiL 
bearing rocks, and thence gradually proceeding in ascending 
order to the forms of life in the most recent strata. In order 
to facilitate the study of the collection, the following Table, 
showing the main groups recognised by the Geological Survey, 
may be useful (p. 140). A diagrammatic table of strata is also 
placed in each Gallery, and a more comprehensive one will be 
found in the Rock Room. 
In this scheme of classification the oldest known rocks are 
p)laced at the bottom, and the succeeding groups of stratified 
fossiliferous rocks pass upwards in regular ascending order. A 
similar plan is adopted in the arrangement of the fossils. The 
oldest British fossils will be found at the south-west end of the 
Lower Gallery, whence the series ascends in stratigraphical order, 
and terminates in the south-west comer of the Upper Gallery. 
It should be noted, however, that the fossil vertebrata, or back- 
boned animals, form a distinct series, not conforming to the 
stratigraphical arrangement, but occupying the Recesses in the 
two Galleries. 
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