26 
NATURAL HISTORY. [UPPER FLOOR. 
with some large pearls imbedded in their bodies, deserve 
particular attention. On the lower shelves are the tuni- 
cated animals, as the genera Biphora, Ascidia, &c. 
In Case 13 are Radiated animals preserved in spirits, 
as Sea Wigs ( Comatula ), Sea Stars, or Star Fish ( Aste - 
rias ), and Medusa’s Head, ( Alecto ), with their finely 
divided arms, with which they filter the water, to separate 
the small mollusca on which they feed. The Lizard-tailed 
Star Fish ( Ophiura ), which attach themselves to coral 
by their flexible arms ; the Sea Eggs {Echinus), and 
Sea Hearts ( Spatangus ), the Sea Lemons, Sea Cucum¬ 
bers {Holothuria), some of which are much sought after 
by the Chinese, as delicacies ; and lastly, the genus Si- 
phunculus. 
Case 14 contains the soft radiated animals, as Medusae, 
Physaliae, Velellae, and Actiniae, and the animals of va¬ 
rious kinds of Sea Pens, Corals, and Corallines, and also 
some Coralloid plants, preserved in spirits. 
Cases 15 and 16, between the windows, contain some 
preserved Saurian and Ophidian Reptiles and Amphibia; 
as several species of Monitors; the Guana, used as food 
in the West Indies; the Frilled Lizard ( Chlamydosaurus ), 
from New Holland, which has a large ruff on each side of 
its neck, just before the shoulders ; the Sea Snakes, with 
fiat lanceolate tails, and several specimens of the Cobra 
Capella, one of the most venomous of the serpent tribe. 
Over this Case is a large Indian Tortoise. 
The Table Cases contain a selection of Crustacea and 
Insects, exhibited merely as an outline of the arrangement 
of those subjects *. 
Nos. 1—8 contain the Brachiuri, or short-tailed Crus¬ 
tacea, of which Nos. 1—5 are Crabs. Amongst these are 
specimens of the Swimming Crabs of the genera Polybius, 
Portunus, Podophthalmus, &c. These animals have the 
posterior leg terminated by very flat joints, of an oval or 
* The principal collections of Crustacea, Spiders, and Insects, are 
preserved in proper cabinets in a separate room, and may be seen by per¬ 
sons who wish to consult them for the purposes of study, (by application 
to the Keeper of the Zoology,) every Tuesday and Thursday. In order 
to prevent disappointment, it is requested that individuals or parties 
wishing to see those collections, will apply two days previous to their in¬ 
tended visit, as only a certain number of persons can be admitted at the 
same time. 
