THE ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS. 
85 
groups not represented in the fauna of Southern Asia shall 
not be illustrated in detail so great as that in which the 
characteristic fauna of the Indian Empire and the surround¬ 
ing countries is displayed. Hence the small amount of 
space devoted to the marsupials and monotrernes. 
The “Mouse Gallery/’ as it is called by the Indian 
attendants, stands badly in need of new specimens and a 
new arrangement; but the valuable collection of mammal- 
skins now being received from the Bombay Natural History 
Society in accordance with a compact made between the 
Government of India and that Society, will be of great use 
for this purpose, as soon as, or if ever, the services of a 
specialist are available. 
The gallery of large mammals contains abundant and 
interesting material, including the type-skeletons of several 
Indian cetaceans and a complete mounted skeleton of the 
Mishmi Takin. The room is long and narrow, and obtains 
both light and ventilation from above by a system not 
altogether satisfactory ; the area occupied is identical with 
that of the large Invertebrate Gallery, which is immedi¬ 
ately below. The stuffed specimens are displayed in cases 
ranged- along the two sides and originally designed to 
contain not ouly tl^ose prepared for exhibition but also, 
behind cotton curtains, the research collection of skins and 
skeletons. The latter, however, were found to be practi¬ 
cally inaccessible and experience has proved that the cases, 
which were constructed in India about forty years ago, are 
by no means proof against dust. The whole of the collection 
of unmounted skins is now stored in the lecture-room at the 
top of the building and care has been taken in weeding out 
from the public gallery and preserving in proper cabinets 
protected against light as well as dust, the skins of historical 
value that were until a few years ago numerous amongst 
the public exhibits. 
The centre of the gallery is occupied by skeletons of 
the larger Indian mammals and also of such exotic groups 
as giraffes and zebras, by stuffed rhinoceroses and by 
two large cases, one of which contains casts of cetaceans, 
together with skulls and other specimens of the group. 
