IMAMMALIAN. OSTEOLOGICAL,

DEPAETMENT OF ZOOLOGY

OF THE

BRITISH MUSEUm (NATURAL HISTORY).

ILLUSTRATED BY 57 WOODCUTS AND 2 PLAJSTS.

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GUIDE

TO THE
OF

MAMMALIA

(MAMMALIAN. OSTEOLOaiCAL, CETACEAN)

IN THE

DEPAETMENT OF ZOOLOGY

OF THE

BRITISH MUSEUm (NATURAL HISTORY),

ILLUSTRATED BY 57 WOODCUTS AND 2 PLANS.

{FOURTH EDITION.']

PRINTED BY ORDER OE THE TRUSTEES
1892.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
BED LION COFKT, FLEET 8TEEET.

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PREFACE.

The present Guide has been prepared with the object of being of
service not only to those who endeavour to learn something from
a cursory view of the collections on a single visit to the Museum,
but also to those who desire, by closer study, to acquaint them-
selves with the general arrangement and the principal features of
the members of this class of animals.

In the preparation of the parts relating to the Mammalian
and Osteological Galleries much assistance has been given by
Mr. Oldfield Thomas, the Assistant in charge of these collec-
tions. The portion describing the contents of the Cetacean Gal-
lery has been written by the Director, Professor Flower, F.R.S.

ALBERT GUNTHER.

Zoological Department,

February 14, 1885.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2016

https://archive.org/details/b28122574

PKEFACE TO THE FOUETH EDITION.

The alterations introduced into the present edition consist chiefly
in changes of nomenclature, and in references to the more im-
portant additions which have been placed on exhibition since the
previous issue of this Guide : such as specimens of the Two-humped
Camel of Central Asia, of the Pigmy Hippopotamus of Liberia,
of a fullgrown ram of Hodgson^s Sheep ; skeletons of the Killer-
Whale and Grey Whale of the North Pacific ; the recently
discovered Mole-like Marsupial from Central Australia. The
opening-up of the countries of Eastern and Central Africa has
yielded several new and interesting forms of Antelope, whiJst
Mr. St. G. Littledale has enriched the collection with a pair of
the European Wild Bison, a series of Polo^s Sheep, and several
other large game-animals, all obtained by himself during his
expeditions into the Caucasus and Central Asia. Finally, The
exhibition of heads and horns of big game will be found con-
siderably enlarged by a magnificent donation of A. 0. Hume,
Esq., C.B., who has presented to the Trustees the whole of his
Collection of Indian Mammals.

Zoological Department,
July 3, 1892.

A. G.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Introductory Page

General Notes on Mammals 1

Their Systematic Arrangement 3

Mammalian Gallery 5

Osteological Gallery

The Skeleton of Mammalia 61

The exhibited Skulls and Skeletons .... 67

Cetacean Gallery

General Notes on Cetaceans 104

The exhibited Specimens 109

Alphabetical Index 124

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INTRODUCTORY.

Mammalia are vertebrate * air-breathing animals, more or less
clothed externally with hair ; the females are provided with
mammary or milk-glands, and the young are brought forth
alive, with the exception of the Australian Ornithorhynchus
and Echidna, which are oviparous. Their limbs are usually four
in number, the hinder pair being, however, sometimes either mo-
dified into swimming-paddles or suppressed altogether, while the
anterior are in some cases developed into wings, and in others into
flippers. The tail may be quite rudimentary, as in Man and the
higher Apes ; long, simple, and forming an apparently useless
appendage, as in Cats ; prehensile as in the American Monkeys
and Opossums ; provided with a long tassel for driving away insects
from the skin, as in Elephants, Cattle, &c. ; or, finally, modified
into a swimming-organ, either by the development on it of broad
flukes,^'’ as in the MTales, or merely by being itself flattened
vertically as in the Beaver, or from side to side as in the Musk-
rat, Potamogale, and others.

The heart of Mammalia consists of two completely separated
divisions, each with a ventricle and auricle. Their blood main-
tains a uniformly high temperature, with the exception of some of
the lowest forms, as Echidna.

The number of known kinds of Mammals at present existing

* i. e. with a backbone.

t i. e. with the power of curling round and grasping objects.

B

o

on the earth, and sufficiently distinct from each other to be regarded
by zoologists as species, has been estimated at about 3000, and
there are doubtless many, especially among those of smaller size,
still to be discovered.

Mammals make their first appearance as far back as the Triassic
or carl}'^ Mesozoic period, a few minute teeth, representing three
small species, having been found in the lihietic beds of Germany
and England. Later than these are the early Jurassic or Middle
Mesozoic Mammals, found at Stonesfield in Oxfordshire, where
several more or less complete lower jaws have been discovered,
such as those named Amphltherium and Phascolotheriumj^"\xi'Q(\. in
the Geological Guide, p. 77. In Upper Jurassic times also a very
large number of small mammals must have lived in this country,
as evidenced by remains found at Swanage, now exhibited in the
Palaeontological Gallery.

Of the exact affinities of these Mesozoic Mammals it is almost
impossible to form an idea ; but there can be little doubt that their
nearest living allies are the jMarsupials, that is Didelphiau
Mammals, in which the young are brought forth in an embryonic
condition, completing their development in a pouch formed of the
external integuments of the mother. To this day ^Marsupials show
the same division into two groups, according to their dentition,
which is observed in the ancient Swanage genera — Plagiaulax, as
figured in the Geological Guide, representing the modern dipro-
todont *, and the others the polyprotodont * Marsupials.

At the commencement of the Tertiary jieriod Mouodelphian
Mammals were already abundant, many of them resembling living
species — a fact which shows how imperfect is our knowledge of the
intermediate time during which all these forms must have been
gradually developed fiom their Mesozoic ancestors. Thus the
Eocene, the earliest of the Tertiary periods, has yielded remains of
Bats, Insectivores, Carnivores, Kodentia, many Ungulates, Sirenia,
and Cetacea.

The Mammals of the ]\Iiocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene periods,
for which the Visitor is referred to the Geological Gufde, have
increased in number and variety to the jircsent day; hut, at least
for those that dwelt on the land, the maximum of size has long
For the explanation of these terms see p. 90.

3

been past^ the modem forms being as a whole but diminutive de-
scendants of their gigantic predecessors. On the other hand, the
evidence of fossil remains shows that at no time have Whales
existed so large as those that now swim in our seas.

The subjoined Table shows the manner in which the Mammalia
are classified and arranged in the Gralleries devoted to their
exhibition : —

Systematic Arrangement of the Class Mammalia,

Subclass I. MONODELPHIA.

Order I. PRIMATES.

Suborder 1. Anthropoidea. Pages

Section 1. Catarrhini: Man and Old-World Monkeys .. 6,67

2. Platijrrhini : New- World Monkeys 9,70

Suborder 2. Lemuroidea 10, 71

Order II. CARNIVORA.

Suborder 1. Fissipedia.

Section 1. JEluroidea : Cats, Hyaenas, and Civet-Cats . . 13, 72

2. Cynoidea: Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes 16, 74

3. Arctoidea : Bears, Weasels, and Raccoons. . . . 19, 75
Suborder 2. Pinnipedia : Seals, Walrus, and Sea-Lions .... 21, 77

Order III. INSECTIYORA: Shrews, Moles, Hedgehogs, &c 24, 78

Orderly. CHIROPTERA: Bats.

Suborder 1. Frugivora : Flying-Foxes 27, 81

2. Insectivora : Insectivorous Bats 28, 81

Order V. DERMOPTERA.

GALEOPiTHECiDiE : Flying Lemurs 29, 82

Order VI. RODENTIA.

Suborder 1. Simplicidentata.

Section 1. Sciuromorpha : Squirrels 31, 84

2. Myoniorpha : Rats and Mice 32, 84

3. Hystricomorplia : Porcupines 33, 85

Suborder 2. Duplicidentata : Hares and Rabbits 33, 86

B 2

4

Order VII. UXGULATA.

rapres

Suborder 1. Proboscidea : Elephants 34,80

2. IIyracoidea : Coneys 35, 88

3. Perissodactyla : Khiiioceroses, Tapirs, Horses,

and Asses 3G, 80

4. Artiodactyla 38, 91

Section 1. Bnnodonta : Hippopotamus and Piprs 38, 01

2. Tijlopoda. f Camels and Llamas . . 40, 02

3. Tragidina. [ . j Chevrotains 41,02

4. Pecora. | Oxen, Antelopes, Peer,

j and Giraffe 41, 02

Order VIII. SIREXIA : Manatees and Dugongs 04

Order IX. CETACEA : Whales and Dolphins.

Suborder 1. Odontoceti: Toothed Whales and Dolphins .... 100

2. Mystacoceti : Whalebone Whales 117

Order X. EDEXTATA.

Suborder 1. Pilosa: Sloths and Anteaters 40, 07

2. Loricata : Armadillos 50, 08

3. Squamata : Pangolins 52, 08

4. Tubulidentata : Aard-Varks 52, 00

Subclass II. DIDELPHIA.

Order XI. MARSUPIALIA : Pouched Mammals (Kangaroos,
Opossums, &c.) 53, 90

Subclass HI. ORNITHODELPHIA.

Order XII. MOXOTREMATA: Ornithorhynchus and Echidna . . 50,102

[A series of Catalogues, in which the coutculs of the Zoological collections are
described in detail, has been published by the Trustees. The entire series or single
volumes may be purchased in the Director’s Olllce at the Museum, or ordered
through any bookseller.]

o

The Mammalia are exhibited in three Galleries : —

1. The Mammalian Gallery (on the first floor), in which is
placed the series of stuffed specimens, with the exception of the
Sirenia and Cetacea. Skeletons of the most important types are
incorporated with this series. Also the collection of Antlers of the
family of Deer are ranged along the tops of the cases.

2. The Osteological Gallery (on the second floor), which con-
tains the complete series of skeletons and skulls. The stuffed
Sirenia and the collection of Horns of the Oxen, Antelopes, and
Sheep are also placed in this Gallery.

3. The Cetacean Gallery (in the basement), which contains
stuffed specimens and skeletons of the Whales and Dolphins.

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

In this Gallery, which is devoted to the exhibition of the stuffed
specimens, the contents are arranged in a continuous series in the
Pier-cases, the order commencing on the left hand as the visitor
enters. Large specimens are placed in the Recesses between the
Cases or in the Saloon at the western end of the Gallery. Some
large Cases in the centre of the Gallery contain the Seals and Sea-
Lions, and certain of the larger Ungulates, and the collection of
Antlers of Cervidce or Deer is distributed throughout the Gallery, on
the top of the Cases or on the Piers. The great size of some of the
Cetaceans (Whales and Dolphins) has prevented them from being
placed with the other members of their Class : and a separate
Gallery in the basement has been prepared for their reception.

[See

Plan.]

Fio;. 2.

Fig.

Fig. 1. Skull of Mau. Fig. 2. Skull of old j and fig. 3, of young GoriUa.

6 M.\M.M.ALIAN G.ALLERY.

Order I. PRIMATES.

(Cases 1-10.)

The Primates consist of Man, Monkeys, and Lemurs. The
Monkeys most nearly allied to Man are the so-called Anthropoid *
Apes (the Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Orang Outang, and Gibbons),
which in many points of their internal structure approach
more nearly to Man than to the other ^Monkeys, though their
resemblance to him, both in osteological and external characters.

Fig. 1.

From the Greek anthropos, Mau ; anthropoid = Man-'like.

MONKEYS

7

is far greater in their infancy than after they have attained to
maturity. They are tailless, and habitually assume a semi-erect
position, using their disproportionally long arms to balance
themselves by resting their knuckles on the ground. Their great
toes are opposable, like thumbs, to the other toes, so as to form a
second pair of hands, on account of which the term Quadrwnana
(four-handed) has been applied to them and the other Monkeys.

Several specimens of the Gorilla {AnthropopUhems gonlla) of
various ages are exhibited in the separate Case in the first recess on

Fig. 4.

Gorilla.

8

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

the right of the Gallery (between Pier-cases 95 and 98), conspicuous
among them being two remarkably fine male specimens, whose
j)rojecting jaws, powerful teeth, and enormous brow-ridges give
them a ferocious and savage appearance, wholly unlike that even
of the lowest of men, or of their own young.

In the corresponding Case on the left are the Chimpanzees
[Anthropopithecus niger and calms) and Orang Outangs [Simia
satyrus), the former being closely allied and very similar to the
Gorilla, and, like it, natives of the forests of ^Vestern and Central
Africa. The large male Orang in this Case shows very well the

Fig. 5.

Head of adult Orang Outang.

[Case 1.]

[Cases 2
and 8.]

peculiar shape of the cheeks, which are provided with thick fleshy
protuberances. The Gibbons [Hylubates) , far less man-like in
every way, arc exhibited in Case 1. Their remarkable variability
in colour, exemplified by the groups of H. jnleaius and hr, should
be specially noticed. The Orangs and Gibbons arC found in
Sumatra and Borneo, the latter extending also northwards to
Bur mail, Assam, and the Island of Hainan.

Passing now to the ordinary Monkeys, the first of the series
are the Cercupithecitke (Cases 2-G), comprising : — (I) The long-
tailed Indian Monkeys [Semnopithecus) (Cases 2 and 3), of

MONKEYS.

9

medium size, with long tails, small posterior callosities, and
generally rather short crisp fur, nearly uniform in colour, natives
of India, China, and the East-Indian Archipelago. The most
striking species both in form and colour is the Proboscis Monkey
(so called on account of the remarkable length of its nose) [Nasalis
larvatiis) of Borneo, of which a fine male example is placed in the
centre of the case. (2) The Culohi (Case 4), closely allied to the [Case 4.]
last, but natives of Africa ; some are dull rufous or grey, and others
finely marked with sharply contrasting black and white, with
long tufted tails, noticeably the Guereza [Colohas guereza), which
has on its side a peculiar fringe of long white hairs reaching quite
down to the ground, and probably serving as a protection from the
fierce African sun. (3) The long-tailed African Monkeys (Cerco-
pithecus) (Cases 3 & 4), provided with cheek-pouches in which
food can be temporarily stored, large posterior callosities, and
extremely long tails ; many of them are brilliantly coloured,
as for example the Mona Monkey [C. mono). (4) The Macaques,
chiefly inhabitants of Southern Asia, one species {Macacus inuus)
occurring in North Africa and leading a precarious existence on [Cases 5
the rock of Gibraltar (Cases 5 & 6). (5) The Baboons [Cyno-

cephalus), hideous animals with powerful teeth, projecting jaws,
nearly equal fore and hind limbs, and dull-coloured fur, natives
of Africa and Arabia (Case 6) : one species, the Mandrill {Papio
maimon), has a short stumpy tail, and a perfectly naked face, the
skin of which is brightly marked with blue and vermilion ; all the
others are dull-coloured animals, with well-developed tails.

All the species hitherto enumerated, from Man down to the
Baboons, are classed together as one group, the Catarrhini^, or

narrow-nosed,^^ distinguished by the very narrow division between
their nostrils and by having only 32 teeth; they are entirely re-
stricted to the Old World. The Monkeys following form the
group of Platyrrhini, or “ broad-nosed Monkeys, peculiar to
America, and characterized by their widely separated nostrils,
frequently prehensile tails, less perfectly opposable thumbs, &c.

The first family of this group is the CeUdce, comprising : — (1) The [Cases 7
Spider-Monkeys {Ateles) (Cases 7 & 8), remarkable for their ex-
tremely long and slender limbs — of which, alone among the Platyr-
* From the Greek hata, below, and r/ns, nose ; the nostrils directed downwards.

10

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

rhini, the anterior are longer than the posterior — tlieir rudimentary
thumbs^ and long prehensile tails. (2) The Howling Monkeys
{Mycetes, Case 7), the males of which possess a most extra-
ordinary voice, the resonance of which is increased by a peculiar
chamber formed by the middle portion of the bone of the tongue
(see p. 70) : they are stout, thick-set animals, with well-developed
thumbs, prehensile tails, and are generally of a uniform red, brown,
or blackish colour; the males are furnished with short thick
beards. (3) The Negro-Monkeys [Lagothrix, Case 8). (4) The

Yarhees and Uakaris {Pithecia and Ouakaria), two closely allied
genera, the first with peculiarly long thick hair all over its body
and tail, which latter, though long, is not prehensile ; the second
distinguished from all the other American ^lonkeys by having
scarcely any tail ; one species (0. exhibited in this Case,

is quite bald; and all are very thinly haired, in marked contrast to
the Yarkees. (5) The Squirrel-Monkeys [Nyctipithecus, CaUithrix,
and Chrysothrix, Case 9) are all beautiful little creatures, with
soft bright-coloured fur, long, hairy, non-prehensile tails, and
well-developed thumbs; they live ])artly on insects. (6) The
[Case 9 ] Sapajous, or Capuchin Monkeys [Cebus, Case 9), are a genus of
numerous dull-coloured species, with thick prehensile tails and
well-developed thumbs. Being comparatively hardy and easily
tamed, trained specimens are frequently exhibited in this country.

The second family of the Platyrrhini are the HapaVidm or .Mar-
mosets, differing from the others by their non-opposable pollex *,
which is provided with a claw instead of a nail, their rudimentary
hallux t; long, hairy, and never prehensile tail, and the different
number of their teeth. They are small animals, some not exceed-
ing a rat in size, and of bright and varied appearance, many being
ornamented with long tufts of hair on their ears, and all being
more or less brightly coloured. They are almost entirely con-
fined to the forests of tro])ical South America, a single species
only extending as far north as Panama.

The second Suborder of the Primates — the Lemuroidea —
consists of a number of very remarkable animals, of a far lower type

* The first or innermost digit of the fore limb, corresponding to the Immau
thumb,” a name inapplicable when it is not opposable to the other digits,
t The first digit of the hind limb, corresponding to our “ great toe.”

LEMURS.

11

than those we have hitherto mentioned ; they are for the most part
natives of Madagascar, although a few aberrant members of the
group are found in Africa and Southern Asia. They are invariably
arboreal in their habits, with generally long, bushy, and non-pre-
hensile tails, opposable thumbs and great toes, large eyes, and long
dog-like faces. They are divided into three families, of which the
typical one, the Lemurida, contains all but the whole of the
species. It is subdivided into the following groups : —

1. The Indrisince {Indris and Propithecus) , from Madagascar,
characterized by their disproportionately long hind limbs, hind toes
united by skin, and the possession of only 30 teeth. They are
exhibited in separate Cases in the centre of the Gallery, and in Case
10. They are singularly variable in their colour, as may be seen by
the mounted groups of the different species. When on the ground
they move in an upright position, holding their arms over their heads
in order to balance themselves, and progressing by short leaps, in a
most awkward and ludicrous manner.

2. The Lemurin(B or true Lemurs (Case 10), also confined to [Case 10.]
Madagascar, have fore and hind limbs of nearly equal length, toes

free to the base, and 36 teeth. They are more quadrupedal in
their actions than the last group, moving about both on the ground
and in trees with great activity. Like the Propitheci, they are very
variable in their coloration, being marked with various shades of
red, brown, and black. Specimens of the Ruffed Lemur [Varecia
varia) are exhibited in one of the separate cases.

3. The GalaginiruB are distinguished by the unusual elongation
of their tarsal bones. There are two genera, of which the first,

Chirogale, contains 3 or 4 small species, with long bushy tails and
soft woolly fur. They are very like large dormice, both in their
appearance and habits, building nests and hibernating during the
winter. Galago, the second genus, is found in Africa, and dis-
tributed from Senegambia to Mozambique.

4. The group of LorisiruB contains 5 or 6 rare and curious forms,
such as the Potto {Perodicticus potto) of Western Africa, and the
Loris of India and Ceylon. Specimens of both are exhibited in
Case 10.

The second and third families of the Lemuroidea, the TarsiidcB
and Chiromyidce, contain each a single species only, viz. the Tarsier

12

M A M M A L I A N GALLERY.

[Case 10.] [ sj)ectrum)j an extraordinary little animal about the size of

a rat, with 31 teeth, very long feet, long tufted tail, and extremely
large eyes ; it is a native of the islands of the East-lndia Archipelago.

Fig, 0.

The A}’e-aye.

The type of the second family is Chiroinys madagascariensis, the
Aye-aye of Madagascar, a still more specialized form, with only
18 teeth, large ears, a long bushy tail, and long compressed claws
on all the fingers and toes, with the exception of the hallux, which
is opposable and has a flat nail. The middle finger of the fore
foot is unusually thin, and it is said that with this finger the
Aye-aye pulls out of their holes the wood-boring caterpillars which
form part of its diet. It also uses its powerful incisors or cutting-
teeth, which are shajied like those of a Rodent, to gnaw through the
stems of sugar-canes and other similar plants, in order to obtain
their succulent juice.

Order II. CARNIVORA.

(Cases 11-2G.)

The Carnivora eomprise the whole assemblage of animals known
by the name of Beasts of Prey — the Cats,AVolves and Dogs, Bears,
MTasels, and many other allied animals. From this terrestrial
type another has been develoj)ed, adapted for an aquatic life, with
limbs modified into swimming-organs, viz. the Carnivora Pinnipedia,
or Fin-footed Carnivores — Seals and Walruses.

CARNIVORA.

13

The Carnivora Fissipedia, or Land Carnivores, are divided into
three great groups^ of which the first_, or ^luroidea*^ contains the
Cats^ Hyaenas, and Civet-Cats ; the second, or Cynoidea f, the
Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes; and the third, or ArctoideaJ, the Bears,

Weasels, and Raccoons.

The Cats, or Felida (Cases 11 to 16), are the most highly orga- [Cases
nized of all the Beasts of Prey, representing the predaceous type H-16.]
of animal in its fullest perfection. They are all lightly but strongly
built, with small heads, short ears, and, except in the Lynxes, long
hairy tails, which are never prehensile. They are invariably
digitigrade — that is to say, they walk on their fingers and toes,
not on their palms and soles; and are provided with five toes
on their fore feet, of which the first, or pollex, does not touch
the ground, and four on their hind feet, the first being entirely
suppressed. Their sharp, powerful, and strongly-curved claws
are retractile, i. e. they can be drawn back when not in use, to
prevent them from being blunted by contact with the ground ;
the mechanism of retraction is explained on p. 73, in connection
with the osteology of the family. In disposition the Cats belong
to the fiercest of animals, and man has succeeded in taming, to a
certain extent, one member of the group only, our common House-
Cat; but all the other species become savage and bloodthirsty
when adult, even if, as kittens, they are apparently docile and
attached to their masters. The geographical distribution of the
Cats extends over the whole world, with the exception of Mada-
gascar and the Australian region.

Of the Lion there are exhibited an adult male Barbary Lion, [Case 11.]
showing the thick black mane, which is especially well developed
in North-African individuals; a maneless Lion from Gujerat,
formerly thought to represent a distinct species ; and a fine Lioness
from South Africa. There is a also a Lion-cub, bred in England,
which shows traces of the dark spots so general in the family of
Cats, a fact which appears to indicate that the ancestors of our
tawny spotless Lion had spotted coats like the other Cats. The
present range of the Lion extends over the wEole of Africa, through
Persia to the north-w^estern corner of the continent of India.

Above the Lioness, in Case 12, are placed two specimens of the [Case 12.]
* Ailonros, a cat. t Kuon, a dog. % Arktos, a bear.

14

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

[Cases’
13 & 14.]

[Cases
15 & 10.]

Ounce or Snow-Leopard [Fells uncia), a beautiful, soft-furred,
long-tailed species, which inhabits the snowy regions of the Hima-
layas and Central Asia, at elevations varying, according to the
season, from 9000 to 18,000 feet above the sea, never ranging
very far below the snow-line. Once only it has been brought alive
to Europe.

The upper part of Cases 11 and 12 contains specimens of
the Leopard [Fells j)ardus), one of the largest of the spotted Cats,
whose range extends over all Africa and Southern Asia as far
north as Persia and Tibet. In India it is extremely destructive
to cattle and other domestic animals, and aged individuals
frequently become man-eaters.

The Tiger [Fells tigrls), Cases 13 and 14, is the largest and
most dangerous of the Felidae, exceeding the Lion slightly in size,
and far surpassing him in destructiveness. It is the only Cat
ornamented with cross stripes on the body, a type of coloration
which is very scarce among Mammals ; these cross stripes help
to render the animal inconspicuous among the reeds in which it
commonly hides itself, and where it would be comparatively easily
seen if marked with spots or longitudinal bauds. It inhabits
nearly the whole of Asia, from Persia, across Siberia, to For-
mosa, and southwards throughout India and Burma to Sumatra,
Java, and Bali, while it is not found in either Ceylon or Borneo.
Specimens are exhibited of the smaller, softer-furred variety of
Persia, and of the very large, short-haired Bengal form.

The remainder of the true Cats are placed above the Tigers in
Cases 13 and 14, and in the lower parts of Cases 15 and 16. Of
these the most noteworthy are the series of the Central and Soutli-
Arnerican Ocelots, and the Clouded Tiger of Assam. The fine col-
lection of Norwegian, Canadian, and other Lynxes is also placed
here. The Lynxes differ from the ordinary Cats by their short
tails, tufted ears, and by certain differences in their skulls and
dentition, and are confined to the North Temperate and Arctic
zones of both the Old and New Worlds.

The most aberrant member of the Felldce is the Cheetah or
Hunting Leopard (Case 16), characterized by its small round head,
its light and slender form, semi-retractile claws, and various other
peculiarities, osteological and external. It is a native of the whole

CATS.

15

of the African and the western part of the Indian regions. In
India it is trained for hunting antelopes and similar game. Its
speed at times, and for short distances, is marvellous, surpassing
that of a race-horse, and, when well trained, it always runs down
its quarry, although in the wild state it uses the same tactics as
other Cats when stalking its prey, availing itself of every inequality
of the ground to steal close up to a spot whence it can suddenly
spring upon the unsuspecting animal.

The second family of the ^Eluroidea comprises the Hyaenas only [Case 15.]
(Case 15), of which there are three species — Hycena striata and
hrunnea, the Striped and Brown Hyaenas, and Hycena crocuta,
the Spotted Hyaena of South Africa. They are all of about the
size of a large wolf, of cowardly and nocturnal habits, feeding for
the most part on carrion, and rarely attacking other animals which
are able to defend themselves. They have four toes on each of
their feet, non-retractile claws, and rather short, hairy tails.

The family Protelidce contains only a single species, the Aard-
Wolf of the Cape Colony (Proteles cristatus), of which there is a line
specimen in Case 16. This animal looks like a diminutive hyaena,
but is almost toothless, living nearly entirely on decomposing car-
cases, and. on termites, which its strong claws enable it to dig out
of their nests.

The last family of the HHuroidea is the ViverridcE, consisting of [Cases
the Civet-Cats and their allies. These are all comparatively small ^
animals, of low build, dull coloration, and with long hairy tails ;
they are entirely confined to Africa and Southern Asia, with the
exception of two species which are found in South-western Europe.

The most noteworthy groups of the Viverridce are: — (I) Crypto-
procta, containing but one species, the Foussa {C.ferox), peculiar
to Madagascar, and the largest Carnivore of that island ; it is
remarkable for its cat-like head, retractile claws, and other feline
characters. It is quite untamable, and excessively savage when
caught or wounded. (2) The true Civet-Cats [Viverra), with
hairy soles and semi-retractile claws, of which there are four
species, one African and three Indian ; these animals secrete in a
glandular pouch beneath the tail the scent known as civet, which
is obtained by the natives from specimens kept in captivity for
that purpose. (3) The Genets [Genetta), smaller than, but very

IG

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

similar to, the last, of which there are four or five African species,
one of them, the Common Genet (G. vuJfjaris)^ extending into
Europe as far north as Central France. (4) The Palm-Civets
(Pfirucloxurus), long-bodied, short-limbed animals, with short ears,
long powerful hairy tails, naked soles, and semi-retractile claws,
common in India and the Malay Archipelago. They are arboreal
in their habits, and feed either on rats, lizards, small birds and
eggs, or on vegetable food, such as rice and fruit. (5) Tlie
IMungooses (^Herpestes, &c.), of Africa and India, with naked soles,
and long, straight, non-retractile claws. They feed on reptiles and
birds, rats and mice, eggs, &c., and are often domesticated for the
purpose of clearing houses of vermin. They are most useful in
destroying poisonous snakes, whose bites they avoid by their won-
derful watchfulness and agility ; the stories of their having recourse
to some plant as an antidote to the snake’s poison are entirely
without foundation. There are about 30 s])ecies of ]\Iungooses
known, of which the most noticeable are the Egyptian ]\I ungoose
{Herpestes ichneumon) , which is found also in Spain, and feeds
largely on the eggs and young of the crocodile ; and the Grey
Mungoose [Herpestes griseus), the species tamed in India. Some
years ago the latter was introduced into the island of Jamaica, where
rats had multiplied on the sugar-])lantations to such an extent as
to inflict the greatest losses upon the jilanters, who were nearly
ruined. In a short time the jMungooses cleared the plantations of
the vermin, and are now under the protection of the law.

Allied to the jMungooses are several aberrant animals found in
[Madagascar, among which may be specially mentioned the curious
Eupleres goudoti, exhibited in Case 18, which obtains the beetles
and worms on which it lives by burrowing in the earth with its
elongated snout.

The second Suborder of the Carnivora, the Cynoidea, consists
of a single family, the Canidee, or Dogs, Wolves, and Foxes.
They are on the whole lightly built animals, of great speed and
endurance, obtaining their prey, as a rule, by running it fairly
down, rather than by pouncing upon it in the manner of the Cats
and their allies. They are digitigrade, and have, with a single
exception, five toes on their fore and four on their hind feet ;
their palms and soles are always hairy, the only naked parts being

DOGS.

17

the foot-pads. Their osteological characters are referred to on
p. 74.

This family contains a large number of species, all more or less
closely allied to each other, with the exception of one or two aber-
rant forms. The principal genus is Canis, which comprises Dogs,
Wolves, and Jackals.

The history of the development and domestication of the Common
Dog is a highly interesting subject, which is as yet far from being
fully understood. Many naturalists, to within a very recent period,
entertained the view that there had existed one original wild species
from which, by man^s agency, all the various races of Dogs had
been developed. This view has now been abandoned ; in its place it
is believed that in many parts of the world the natives have tamed
the wild species indigenous to their country, and that in course of
time, as certain nations became more civilized, their Dogs were
more and more adapted to their various requirements by careful
breeding, and by the selection and perpetuation of the most useful
varieties, until many of them ceased to show resemblance to their
far-distant wild ancestors.

In support of this view the fact may be adduced that at the
present day, among savage and primitive tribes, the tame Dogs
bear a striking resemblance to the wild species of Dog found in
their country. Thus the Esquimaux Dog resembles the North-
American Wolf {Canis occidentalism, the Hare-Indian Dog the
Coyote or Prairie-Wolf (C. latrans), while in British Guiana the
natives are known to train and domesticate the indigenous Wild
Dogs. In the Old World the Hungarian Sheep-Dog might be
readily mistaken for the European Wolf {Canis lupus), the Street-
Dogs of Constantinople and Cairo for Jackals, and certain of the
Indian Pariah Dogs for individuals of the Indian Wolf [Canis
pallipes). The degraded Bushmen of South Africa have a tame
Dog which agrees in many of its characters with the Black-backed
Jackal {Canis mesomelas) of that region.

Thus there can be no doubt that these tame or semi-domesti-
cated Dogs are individuals of the same stock as the wild species of
the country, with which indeed they readily mix whenever they
cease to be under the control of their masters.

In more civilized countries the process of domestication and

c

18

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

[CasL*8

17-20.]

selection has gone so very much further, that the Dogs have
gradually lost nearly all traces of their wild ancestry, and have
developed into the innumerable different races now existing, races
so distinct that, were they natural instead of artificial, they would
be referred to several different genera.

Dogs were domesticated by man long before the earliest records
of history, their remains being found in association with the rude
implements of the ancient cave- and lake - dwellers of Central
Europe.

Several varieties of the Domestic Dog are exhibited in Case 19;
in Case 20 two diminutive Lap-Dogs, not six inches long, and
representing the smallest development of the tribe as yet attained ;
behind them a head of the largest known Dog, a prize Great
Dane, the skeleton of which is mounted in the Osteological Gallery ;
the weight of this Dog when alive was nearly 13 stone. A speci-
men of the Dingo (^Canis dingo), the Wild Dog of Australia, un-
doubtedly introduced in that continent, though longbefore the advent
of Europeans, and an example of the African Hunting-Dog (^Lycaon
venaticus), remarkable for the possession of only four toes on each
of its feet, and for its superficial resemblance to the Hyaenas, are
exhibited in the same Cases.

In the upper compartments of Cases 17 and 18 are the Wolves,
among them a specimen of the European Wolf {Cams lupus) from
Moscow, and one of the Black Wolf of Thibet (C. laniger).
AVolves range all over Europe, continental Asia, and North
America. The Jackals of Africa and India (Case 19) and the
Wild Dogs of India (Case 20) are smaller in size.

Among the Foxes [Vulpes) may be noticed the Common Fox (F.
^'ulgaris), the Cross-Fox of North America [V.pennsylvanica), and
others. The white race of the Arctic Fox ( V. lagopus), one of the
most valuable fur-bearing animals, changes the colour of its coat
according to the season, like many other Arctic animals ; while
the blue race retains its colour all the year round and yields in
winter a still more rich and valuable fur than the white.

The beautiful large-eared Fennecs of Africa are closely allied to
the Foxes. The Bush-Dog of Guiana and Brazil [Icticyon vena-
ticus) and the Raccoon Dog of China and Japan {Nyctereutes
procyonoides) are other remarkable types of Dogs, very aberrant

OTTERS.

19

externally, but closely related to the ordinary Canidse in their more
important dental and cranial characters. With these is placed a
specimen of the Long-eared Fox of South Africa {Otocyon megalotis),
remarkable for its very numerous teeth and its sharp-pointed and
long ears ; special interest is attached to it, as it has been considered
to represent the original type of canine animal, whence all the wild
forms of Dogs and Foxes of the present day have been developed.

The last great division of the fissiped Carnivora is the Arctoidea,
consisting of the Bears, Weasels, Raccoons, &c. The most typical
members are completely plantigrade, walking flat on their palms
and soles ; and all have five toes on each of their feet.

The first family, Mustelidce (Cases 21 and 22), contains the Weasels, [Cases

Otters, Badgers, &c., which all agree very closely in their skulls 21 & 22.]
and dentition, but may be readily separated into three Tribes by
their general form, and by the structure of their feet and claws.

These tribes are: — (1) The Mustelince, the Weasel tribe, the mem-
bers of which have long, low bodies, with short legs, short and partly
webbed toes, and small, sharp, and often semi-retractile claws. The
fur of some of the species forms an important article of trade, as of the
Martens and Sables {Mustela) of NorthernEurope, Asia, and America.

Of these one species is British, namely the Pine-Marten (Af. martes),
now nearly exterminated in England, but still holding its own in
the wilder parts of Scotland. The true Weasels [Putonus] consist
of about 20 or 30 comparatively short-haired species, inhabiting
nearly all parts of the world. Among them may be mentioned
the common English Stoat or Ermine {Putorius ermineus), three
specimens of which have been mounted to show the seasonal change
of fur; the Weasel (P. vulgaris)', the Polecat (P. putorius), of
which the Ferret is a domesticated form. Pcecilogale alhinucha
is the brightest marked of the tribe ; and its largest member, the
Glutton [Gulo luscus), a heavily built, powerful animal, much
resembling a small bear, and very destructive to the larger game.

(2) The Melince, or Badger tribe, have comparatively stout,
thick- set bodies, covered with fur generally marked with more or
less sharply contrasted black and white bands or patches, and long
toes provided with large straight claws, more powerful on the fore
than on the hind feet. They include the Badgers (Metes), Ratels

c 2

20

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

(^Mellivora) j and Skunks {Mephitis), the latter with a bad repu-
tation on account of the intensely disagreeable and evib smelling
fluid which they emit when provoked. (3) The Lutrince, or Otter
tribe (Case 22), have short feet, webbed toes, small claws, and long
powerful tails. There are about 15 species known, all very similar
externally, in colour, size, and general proportions, our English
Otter (Lutra vulgaris) being a very typical member of the group.
The most aberrant is the Sea-Otter [Latax Ivtris), which has its
hind feet very peculiarly modified into flippers, somewhat as in
the Seals. This animal frequents the salt water, and was once
abundant on all the coasts of the North Pacific; but owing to the
merciless persecution to which it has been subjected for the sake
of its valuable fur, its numbers have been so much thinned, that
it is sure to be exterminated unless effectual measures be taken for
its protection.

The Procyonidce (Case 22) form the second family of the Arc-
toidea. They are wholly American, and contain, among others,,
the Raccoons [Procyon), the peculiar long-nosed Coatis [Nasua),
and the Kinkajou [Cercoleptes) , the last a nocturnal animal with a
long prehensile tail. All the members of this family habitually
live largely on vegetable food, such as fruit, berries, &c., as well
as on small mammals, birds, insects, worms, eggs, &c.

The brilliantly coloured Panda (jEIurus fulgens), exhibited in the
same Case, is closely allied to the last family, although it occurs in
a very different part of the globe, viz. in North India and Assam.
It lives at a great altitude in the Himalayas, seldom deseending
lower than about 7000 feet above the sea, and feeds wholly on
fruit and other vegetable food.

[Cases Bears {Ursidee), Cases 2I-2G, form the last family

21-26.] of the land Carnivores. They arc characterized by their large
size, thick and clumsy build, rudimentary tails, plantigrade,
five-toed feet, long, blunt, and nearly straight claws, small ears,
and long shaggy fur. Their - distribution includes Europe, Asia,
and North America, while they are entirely absent from Aus-
tralia, Africa, and the greater part of South America. The
most noteworthy members of the group are ; — The Brown Bear
{Ursus arctos), Case 23, of Europe and North Asia, which was
formerly found in England, having only been exterminated within

SEALS.

21

historic times. The Syrian Bear (Case 21). The Polar Bear
(U. maritimus), Case 24, the largest of the family, an excellent
swimmer, and wholly carnivorous, living on seals, which it captures
by stalking, and on the carcases of large animals. The Grizzly
Bear [U. ferox)^ Case 25, the most formidable beast of prey of North
America, in Miocene times spread over the whole of Europe, but
now restricted to the Bocky Mountains. The Spectacled Bear
[U. ornatus), Case 26, an interesting species, found isolated from
the others in the Andes of Peru, no representative of this family
occurring in Central i\.merica.

The Fin-footed Carnivores, or Carnivora Pinnipedia, con-
sist of the Seals and their allies, and are distinguished by their limbs
being developed into flippers, and adapted for locomotion in the
water while they are almost useless on land, a modification fore-
shadowed in the hind limbs of the Sea-Otter. They have very short
tails, close fur, and large eyes, and have the power of closing their
nostrils and ear-openings. They live for the greater part of the
year in the sea, generally close to the shore, but at times wandering
far from land, to which, however, they invariably resort during the
breeding-season in order to bring forth their young. Their food
consists almost entirely of fish, varied with crabs and cuttlefish,
while the smaller species in their turn are preyed upon to a great
extent by certain of the toothed Whales, such as the Killer ”
[Orca gladiator) ; and an enormous number, both of the Eared and
True Seals, are killed every year by the sealers for the sake of their
valuable fur and oil.

The Eared or Fur-Seals {Otarudc^) are distinguished from the
remainder of the Order by possessing small external ears, and by
being able to bend their hind feet forwards under their bodies and
to use them for walking on land, showing in both respects a
closer relationship to ordinary land animals than do the true Seals,
in which the outer ear has been entirely lost, and the hind feet
project straight backwards and are only used for swimming.
The Eared Seals are exhibited in the Cases in the centre of the
Gallery, and very fine male specimens of the Northern Sea-
Lion [Otaria stelleri) and of the Southern [Otaria juhata) in
a smaller separate case. Especially striking among these animals
is the great difference in size between the male and female;

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

22

Northern Fur-Seal {Callorhinus urshms), (S and 2 ; after Elliot.

all Eared Seals seem to be polygamous. Of the numerous species,
one of the most worthy of mention is the Fur-Seal {Callorhinus
ursinus), of the North Pacific, from which most of the seal-
skins sold are obtained. It may be observed that the coats of the
stuffed specimens do not show any resemblance to the “ seal-skin of
the trade; in the latter only the soft under-fur of immature and female
specimens is preserved, all the long coarse hairs having been
removed.

Intermediate in many respects between the Eared and True
Seals are the Trichechidcey containing but a single species, Triche-
ckus rosmarus, the Walrus, which lacks external ears, but uses
its hind limbs after the manner of the Eared Seals. In one
respect, however, it is quite unique — namely, in its possession of
enormously long and powerful canine teeth, or “ tusks, which
project downwards far below the lower jaw, and are used for fight-
ing, for climbing from the water on to the ice, and for digging on
the sea-bottom for the shell-fish and crustaceans on which this
species chiefly lives. Its range extends all round the North Pole,
along the edges of the ice-fields.

In the Phocidce, or True Seals, the adaptation for an aquatic

SEALS.

23

life has reached its highest development. They are without
external ears^ the palms and soles of their feet are covered with

Fig.

The Common Seal {Phoca vitulind).

hair, and their coat has no woolly under-fur, consisting only
of long stiff hairs lying closely against the skin ; so that their
fur is of value only for the manufacture of coarse wearing apparel.

The family contains eight or ten genera, separated chiefly by the
form of their teeth and the varying development of the toes, which
in some are all of about the same length, while in others the first
and fifth toes are much elongated beyond the rest, in order to
support the web.

The most noteworthy of the Phocidse exhibited are : — the
Sea-Leopard [Stenorhynchus leptonyx), of the Antarctic seas;
the Hooded Seal [Cystophora cristata), from Greenland, the male
of which has a peculiar bag of skin on its muzzle, which it has
the power of inflating with air when excited ; the Sea-Elephant
(Macrorhinus leoninus), the largest of the famdly, sometimes
attaining nearly 20 feet in length ; and various other smaller
Seals, such as the Common Seal of the English coast [Phoca
vitulind) .

24

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

Order HI. INSECTIVORA.

(Case 27.)

Case 27.] The small Order known as the Inseetivora, or Insect-eaters, is a
group of which our common English Hedgehog, Shrew, and Mole
are typical examples. The members of it are small animals, of
dull and inconspicuous coloration, gaining their living either by
burrowing in the ground for worms and larvae, by hunting for beetles
and other insects in the grass and underwood, or, more rarely, by
climbing among trees after their prey. By far the greater portion
are purely animal-feeders. Their voracity is extraordinary, in-
stances being recorded, both of Moles and Shrews, in which two indi-
viduals kept in the same cage have attacked each other, the victor
eating the whole of its opponent, leaving the skin only. A fast of
only three or four hours is fatal to most of them ; so that the
total number of worms and insects destroyed by the members of
this Order must be enormous. The range of the Insectivora
extends over the whole world, with the exception of South America
and Australia.

They are divided into the following families : —

The TiipaiidcEy or Tree-Shrews of India and jMalaysia, so like

Fig. 0.

TlieH'upaia {^Tupam tana).

Squirrels both in appearance and habits as to be easily mistaken
for them. They feed on various insects, and also to a small extent

INSECTIVORA.

25

on fruit, and are the only Insectivores which habitually seek their [Case 27.]
food by day. There are about twelve brightly-coloured, bushy-
tailed species belonging to the family.

The Elephant-Shrews {Macro scelididcR) are long-nosed and long-
legged little animals, natives of Africa, which use their long hind
legs for leaping about over the sand, like kangaroos or jerboas,
seldom putting their fore feet to the ground. This modification
for leaping is very common in animals living in tracts of desert
country, as it facilitates progress over deep loose sand.

The Erinaceidce contain three genera — Erinaceus, the Hedge-
hogs, of which there are nineteen species, all extremely similar to
our English Hedgehog, both in appearance and habits, and distri-
buted over Europe, Africa, and Asia ; Gymnura, a long-tailed
animal, closely related to the Hedgehogs, but looking externally
much more like a large rat ; and Hylomys, also rat-like, but with
a very short tail ; the two latter are natives of Malacca, Sumatra,
and Borneo.

Of the Mole family [Talpidce) there are two well-marked groups :

— (1) The long-tailed Myogale, one species of which lives in the
neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea, and the second in the Pyre-
nees. They are entirely aquatic in their habits, living on water-
insects and crustaceans, which they obtain by the help of their
long and peculiarly formed snouts. Their feet are edged with stiff

Fig. 10.

A, Fore foot of Mole (^Talpa). B, Fore foot of the Golden Mole
( Chrysochloris).

The digits are distinguished by numerals, the fifth being absent in
Chrysochloris.

bristles to assist them in swimming, and, for the same purpose,
their powerful tail is flattened from side to side. (2) The group
of true Moles {Talpidce), which comprises a considerable number

26

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

[Case 27.] of species, all strikingly alike externally, but differing among them-
selves in the structure of their skulls and teeth. They are long-
nosed, short-tailed animals, with rudimentary eyes, soft velvety
fur, of such a structure as to lie equally well in either direction,
thus enabling the Mole to move freely in its burrows either back-
wards or forwards, and with short, broadened, spade-like fore feet,
the toes being strong and all of nearly the same length (see
fig. 10, A). With these highly efficient instruments the Mole is
able to force the earth aside and throw it backwards while it is
burrowing in the ground.

The Shrews {Soricid(je) form a family containing a very large
number of mouse-like animals, differing from each other mainly by
slight variations in their teeth, but all presenting very much the
same external appearance. The great majority are terrestrial in their
habits (as, for example, the English Common and Pygmy Shrews),
burrowing on or close to the surface of the ground, and living on
small beetles, worms, or any other animal food they can obtain.
The large Indian Shrews, provided with scent-glands, by which a
substance of a most penetrating odour is secreted. Others live
in ponds and streams, feeding on water-beetles and crustaceans,
for which they swim and dive with great facility. To this group
belongs our common Water-Shrew (^Crossopus fodiens), a beautiful
velvet-coated animal with a long tail, and with its feet, like those of
the Myogales, provided with lateral swimming-bristles.

The family of Tanrecs [Centetidce] is confined to Madagascar,
and consists of about half a dozen species — the spiny Tanrecs,
or Ground-Hogs [Centetes) (among the largest of the Order),
and the striped Tanrecs [Hemicentetes).

To these is closely allied the rare Potamogale velox, a native
of West Africa. In its habits it resembles the Otters, living almost
entirely in the water, and feeding on small fishes, crustaceans, and
water-beetles.

The last family is that of the Golden jMoles [Chrijsochlorida) ,
natives of South Africa, which are very like our European IMoles in
their general shape, but are distinguished, among other points, by
the entirely different form of their anterior digging limbs, which
are narrow, and each provided with an enormous central claw, the
outer toes being quite small (see fig. 10, B). There are five species

BATS.

27

of Chrysochloris, some of them remarkable for the iridescence of
their fur, which can be preserved by placing the animal in spirit,
but entirely fades when it is dried and stuffed.

Order IV. CHIROPTERA.

(Case 27.)

The Chiroptera*, or Bats, form one of the most sharply defined [Case 27.]
of all the Orders of Mammalia, being characterized by the modifica-
tion of the fore limbs into true wings, which have the power of flap-
ping and propelling the animal through the air. The structure of
a Bat's wing is of a very simple character. It consists of a frame-
work formed by the bones of the arm and the enormously elon-
gated fingers, between which the flying membrane (a continuation
of the skin of the body) is expanded, being attached behind to
the front of the hind leg. In most species there is also an addi-
tional membrane spread between the hind legs, in which the tail is
included. The thumb alone is free and assists in locomotion
during the awkward attempts of the animal to walk on all fours.

The hind limbs, which in other mammals have the function of
propelling the body forwards, are almost entirely relieved of
that office, being singularly weak and feeble, and of but little use
to the animal except while asleep or resting, when it hooks
the sharp claws, with which the hind toes are furnished, on to
some support, and remains suspended with the head downwards
until again ready to fly.

The Chiroptera are divided into two distinct Suborders — the
Frugivorous and Insectivorous Bats, of which the first, as a rule,
are of large size, with flattened teeth, suited for munching fruit,
and with claws both on their first and second fingers ; the latter
are of smaller size, with sharp-pointed teeth, suitable for crushing
insects, and with claws on their thumbs only.

Of the fruit-eating Bats, the most worthy of mention are the
large brightly-coloured Flying Foxes, of which certain species,
for example the Philippine Fruit-Bat [Pteropus jubatus), reach to

* Greek, cheii', a hand, and pteron, a wing.

28

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

between 4 and 5 feet in spread of wing. One of this group,
Pteropus mediuSy is extremely common all over India, doing an
enormous amount of damage to the fruit-gardens, to pillage which
it is said they will make nightly expeditions of from ten to
twenty miles, returning each morning to their accustomed sleeping-
places. In striking contrast to these great animals is tbe tiny
Carponycteris minimus , a true Fruit-Bat, but no bigger than a
Mouse, which inhabits South Asia and Australia. Another notice-
able species is the Long-nosed Bat (Harpyia cephalotes) j whose
nostrils are elongated into peculiar tubes, the special use of which
still remains to be discovered. There are about 70 species of
Fruit-Bats, spread over all the tropical parts of the Old World.

The Insectivorous Bats are much more numerous than the
Frugivorous, numbering about 350 species, distributed over the
wLole world, and extending even to remote islands in the Pacific,
w'here they are the only indigenous Mammals. 'With but few ex-
ceptions they are of dull coloration. Though in other respects
much alike, they present striking modifications in their facial cha-
racters, many of them developing on their muzzles very remark-
able structures, known as nose-leaves, which seem to be tactile
organs of extreme delicacy, and which are of wonderful variability
both in shape and size (see fig. 11).

Fig. 11.

Mouutain Ilorseshoe-Bat of liulia {Rhinolophus luctus).

Of the Insectivorous Bats exhibited, the following may be
noticed: — The Great Nose-leaf Bats [Megaderma) of Africa, Asia,
and Australia, which are the analogues among Bats of the Carni-
vora^among Mammals generally, preying habitually on the smaller

BATS. LEMURS

29

species of Chiroptera; the Horseshoe-Bats of Europe {Rhino-
lophus ferrum-equinum and Mpposideros) ; the Long-eared Bat
{Flecotus auritus), whose ear is nearly as long as its body; the
Noctule ( Vesperugo nctctula), the largest of our English Bats ; the
peculiar-looking Cheiromeles torquatus of the East Indies; the
White Bat [Diclidurus albus) of South America^ one of the very
few Mammals, and the only Bat, normally white in colour; the
Vampire {Vampyrus spectrum), the largest of the American Bats,
formerly erroneously supposed to be guilty of blood-sucking ; and,
finally, the real blood-sucking Bat [Desmodus rufus), of which
the specimen exhibited was caught by Mr. Darwin in the act of
sucking blood from a horse. These Bats attack men as well as
animals in their sleep, fanning the victims with their wings. The
wounds they inflict are small, but often continue to bleed after the
Bats are satisfied, and do not readily heal.

Order V. DERMOPTERA.

The single genus of this Order [Galeopithecus) has been placed

Fig. 12.

Galeopithecus.

30

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

by some with the Lemurs, hy others with the Insectivores, but
differs sufficiently from both to he considered apart. It contains the
so-called Flying Lemurs of Malaysia and the Philippines, animals
of about the size of a cat, with a lateral extension of the skin of
the body, supported hy the four limbs and tail, and forming a sort
of parachute. By the help of this parachute, the Galeopitheci
can float through the air for considerable distances from tree to tree,
but their flying leaps are always in a descending direction, as in
Flying Squirrels and Flying Lizards, and not as in Bats, which
have the power of flapping their wings and rising and falling in
the air at their pleasure. Galeopithecus lives exclusively on vege-
table food. Two specimens, one of which has the parachute
opened, are exhibited.

Order VI. BODENTIA, or GNAWING MAMMALS.

(Cases 27-32.)

The Bodentia, or Gnawing Animals, comprise the Squirrels,
Bats, Hares, &c., and form by far the largest order of Mammals,
containing over 900 distinct species, a number more than double
that of the next largest, the Chiroptera. As a whole, the Bodents
are distinguished by their small size, nocturnal habits, and vege-
tarian diet, all of them living mainly on fruits, leaves, nuts, and
other similar food, although many of the species will occasionally
eat eggs, birds, fish, or other animal food. Their peculiar denti-
tion, by which they are distinguished from other Mammals, is
described on p. 83.

AVith regard to their geograjihical distribution, they are, next
to the Chiroptera, the most widely spread of all Orders, extending
over the whole world, with the exception of the more remote
Pacific islands, to which they have never had means of access.
IMany of the species are arboreal, like the Squirrels, or aquatic, like
the Water-Voles and Musquashes ; but the great majority are bur-
rowing and terrestrial animals, which only come forth by night to
seek their food, on which account, although so numerous, they are
but little seen by ordinary observers.

The Order is divided into those with only one pair of incisor
teeth in the upper jawq and those with two. The first of these

SQUIRRELS.

31

Suborders contains by far the greatest number of species, and is
itself divisible into three sections, of which the Squirrel, Rat, and
Porcupine are severally typical.

Of the Sciuromorphaj or Squirrel section, may be mentioned the
following : —

The Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrels {Anomalurus) of Equatorial
Africa (Case 27, above) , with membranous parachutes like the'Flying [Case 27.]
Lemurs described above (p. 30), and with a series of pointed scales
so placed under the base of their tails as to be of use when the
animal is resting on a vertical tree-trunk, the points of the scales
sticking into the surface of the bark.

The true Flying Squirrels of Southern Asia [Pteromys) , perhaps
the most brightly coloured of all Mammals ; with the exception of
their flying membrane, there is no structural difiPerence between
them and the ordinary Squirrels.

The Chipmunks, Sousliks, and Marmots [Tamias, SpermopMlus,
s^ndiArctomys) (Case 28, above) live in burrows of their own construc-
tion. TheCommon Marmot inhabits the Alpine

regions of Europe. The North- American Prairie-Marmots {Cy-
nomys), better known as Prairie-Dogs, excavate a large number
of deep burrows close together, forming what is called a town.
Frequently they have to share their home with weasels, burrowing
owls, and rattlesnakes, which quarter themselves on the unfortunate
Marmots, and feed on their young.

The Squirrels [Sciurus) (Case 28, below) form the largest genus of [Case 28.]
the present group, about 70 species being known, distributed over
the whole world with the exception of the Australian region. They
range in size from species more than a foot in length, such as
the Purple Squirrel [Sciurus indicus) of India, down to others
scarcely larger than Mice, as, for example, the Black-eared Squirrel
of Borneo [S. melanotis). Squirrels are generally bright-coloured,
and vary in an extraordinary degree, as may be gathered from an
examination of the instructive series of S. hypopyrrhuSj the Grizzled
Squirrel, placed in the lower part of Case 28. This species is orna-
mented with patches or bands of white, yellow, grey, brown, and
black, in every combination, each variety passing, by insensible
gradations, into the next. Specimens of our common Squirrel also
[S, vulgaris), killed respectively in England, Switzerland, and

32

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

[Case 29.]

[Cases
29 & 30.]

Siberia, would appear so different from each other as to be readily
taken for three separate species, were it not that all the inter-
mediate stages are known. The colours, moreover, change some-
what according to season, v/inter specimens of the English species
being decidedly greyer and less ruddy in tint than those killed in
summer.

The Beaver [Castor fiber) (Case 29) is distinguished by its flat
and scaly tail, webbed hind feet, and soft, thick fur. Its incisor
teeth are of remarkable strength and sharpness, and it is able with
them to gnaw through the trunks of large trees, which it requires
for the construction of dams, in a short space of time. This
interesting animal is rapidly becoming exterminated, owing to
the great demand for its fur *, so that whereas it formerly in-
habited the whole of Northern Europe, Asia, and America, it is
now only to be found in a few isolated localities in the most inac-
cessible parts of its proper range. Some naturalists regard the
American Beaver as distinct from the European, and name it
Castor canadensis.

The Myomorpha, or Rat section (Cases 29 and 30), contains
about 60 genera and 500 species, which are spread over the whole
world, and externally present but few striking differences between
the various forms. They possess generally large ears, long and
more or less scaly tails, and bright prominent eyes. The families
included in this section are : — (1) The MyoxidcR, or Dormice,
beautiful soft-furred, bushy-tailed little animals, natives of Europe,
North Asia, and Africa, of which one small species, Muscardinus
avellanariuSy the common Dormouse, is a native of England.
(2) The MuridcBj or Rats and Mice, of svhich may be mentioned the
Gerbilles of India and Africa [Gerhillus)^ with elongated hind feet,
on which they jump like kangaroos; the Rats and Mice of the Old
World [Mures), and the Vesper-Mice [Sigmodontes) of America; the
Voles [Microtus, or, as they have been commonly called, Arvicola),
whose best-known members are the common English Field-Vole
[Arvicola agrestis), the AVater-Vole or Water-Rat [Arvicola amphi-
bius), and its ally the North- American ^Musquash [Fiber zibethi-
cus), a beautiful albino example of which is exhibited in Case 30.

■'* In the years 1864-1875 the Hudson’s Bay Company sold on an average
150,000, and in the years 1870-1891 108,200 Beaver-skins per annum.

PORCUPINES.

33

(3) The Bamboo-Rats and Rodent Moles of Asia and Africa
[Spalacidce) , with short tails^ thick heavy bodies, and powerful
digging claws. (4) The Gophers and Pouched Mice [Geomyidce),
somewhat similar to the last, but provided with pouches in
their cheeks, outside their mouths, often large enough to hold
a walnut. (5) The Dipodidce (Case 30), consisting of the long-
legged and long-tailed Jerboas of North Africa and Asia, specially
modified for leaping lightly over a yielding sandy soil. The
Jumping Hare of the Cape Colony [Pedetes capensis) is also a
member of this family.

The Hijstricomorpha, or Porcupine section, contains the fol-
lowing:— (1) The Octodontid(2 (Case 31), with 17 or 18 genera, [Case SI.]
nearly all confined to South America, of which the best known is
the aquatic Coypu (yMijojootamus coijpu), v/hose habits are similar
to those of the ATater-Vole, and whose fur is thick and soft, and of
considerable value. (2) The Porcupines [HijstricidcE) (Cases 29 and [Cases
30, above), found both in the Old and New Worlds, are all covered ^
with stout variegated spines, although in some of the species these
are hidden in the long thick hair. The Porcupine of Southern
Europe [Hystrix cristata) is now becoming very rare, but several
species closely allied to it are still very common in India and the
Malay Archipelago. They feed on fruit, bark, and roots, and live
in burrows of their own construction, with the exception of the
South- American Tree-Porcupines, which are wholly arboreal, and
have long prehensile tails. (3) The Chinchillas {Chinchillidce) ,
celebrated for their beautiful soft fur. (4) The Agoutis and their
allies [Dasyproctida] ) and (5) the Cavies (CavUdcB) (Case 32), [Case32.ig
to which belong the little animals known to us as Guinea-pigs,
and the great Capybara [Hydrochcerus capyhara), by far the largest
of the Order. Its habits are somewhat similar to those of the
Hippopotamus, it being thoroughly aquatic, and feeding on water-
weeds, grass, and other vegetable substances. The last three
families are all entirely restricted to South America.

The second suborder of Rodents, distinguished by possessing [Cases
two pairs of incisors in the upper jaw, consists only of the Hares 31 & 32.]
and Rabbits {Lepus) and the Pikas [Lagomys), animals far less
specialized for gnawing than the other Rodents, and showing, in
some respects, the links by which the Rodents are related to other

D

34

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

Mammals. Lepus (Cases 31 and 32, above) contains about 45
species, all on the whole very much alike, of which the three
British species, the Common Hare {Lepus eu?'opaus), the Alpine
or Varying Hare (L. variahilis) , found both in the Highlands of
Scotland and in Ireland, and the Rabbit (L. cuniculus) are typical
examples. Lagomys (Case 32, below) consists only of about 8
species ; they are short-eared, little animals, known as Pikas or
Calling-Hares, from the peculiar calling sound they make. They
resemble Guinea-pigs in their external appearance, and are natives
of Northern Asia and North America.

Order VII. UNGULATA, on HOOFED ANIMALS.

Suborder Proboscidea.

This Suborder, so named from the long trunk or proboscis into
which the nose is produced, consists, at the present day, of two
species only, the African and Indian Elephants. They are the
survivors of a very large number of species which are now extinct,
but ranged in former times over the whole of the northern half of
both the Old and New AVorlds.

Elephants are heavily-built animals, with large ears, nostrils
produced into a long flexible trunk, thick limbs, each provided
with 5 toes, enclosed in a common skin, so that only the nails
show externally, and of these there are, as a rule, only three
or four on the hind foot ; tail well developed, reaching nearly
to the ground ; skin almost naked, although in the extinct
]\Iam moths it was clothed with long shaggy hair. Incisor teeth
growing into long curved tusks, directed downwards and forward.

The two existing species are : — (I) The Indian Elephant {Elephas
indicus), of rather smaller size than the African, with much smaller
(‘ars, a back arched ujiwards, with always 4 and sometimes, though
very rarely, 5 nails on the hind feet, a fingcr-like j)rocess at the
tij) of the trunk, and with only small tusks in the female. It is an
inhabitant of the Indian region from India and Ceylon, through
Burin;di and ^Malacca, to Sumatra. Of this species a rather small
stuffed specimen is placed in the Saloon at the end of the Gallery,
and there are several skeletons and skulls in the Ostcological
Gallery, which will be referred to later on (see p. 86).

ELEPHANTS.

35

(2) The African Elephant {Elephas africanus) is of a somewhat
larger size than the Indian, and has enormous ears, a more or less
hollow back, only 3 nails on each of its hind feet, and its trunk
ends in two equal-sized lips. The female has well-developed tusks,

Fig. 13.

A

Tips of Trunks of (A) Indian and (B) African Elephants.

thoug’h not so large as those of the male. This species inhabited
the whole of Africa south of the Sahara, but is now driven back
towards the centre of the continent ; its fossil remains have also
been found in North Africa and Southern Europe. It is more
courageous and more ill-tempered than its Indian ally, and therefore
more difficult to tame. The ancient Carthaginians and Romans
understood how to train it, but none of the present African
natives have attempted its domestication. Owing to the value of
its ivory it is continually hunted, and it is therefore much to
be feared that the species will ere long become extinct.

Owing to the great difficulty of preserving the thick skin of so
large an animal under the tropical sun of Africa, only a very
young animal can be shown, at present, in the Saloon. But
skeletons and skulls of full-grown individuals are exhibited in the
Osteological Saloon.

Suborder Hyracoidea.

Allied both to the Elephants and Rhinoceros are certain small [Case 35.]
animals looking like short-eared Rabbits, and known as Coneys
[Hijrax, or, as they are now sometimes called, Procavia) (Case 35),
of which about 14 species are distributed over Africa, and extend
northwards into Arabia and Palestine. They are distinguished from
their ponderous allies by their small size, peculiar dentition, and
active habits. Their feet are provided with four anterior and three
posterior rounded hoofs, quite unlike the claws of Rodents, and

B 2

3G

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

their soles are covered with fleshy pads, which enable them to adhere
to, and climb with safety up, smooth surfaces of rocks or trees.
These animals are entirely vegetable feeders, some dwelling among
rocks, others climbing up trees. Among the Rock-Coneys may be

Fijr. 14.

The Coney {llijrax sijriucns).

specially mentioned the Hyrax syriacus, which is the ‘‘ Coney ”
of our English translation of the Bible.

Suborder Perissodactyla.

The Perissodactyla, or Odd- toed Ungulates, are represented at
the present day by three well-known animals, the Ilhinoceros,
Tapir, and Horse, which have in common many important cha-
racters, chiefly in their teeth and limb-bones, which will be better
explained in connection with the skeletons exhibited in the Osteo-
logical Gallery. Whilst in iMiocene and Pliocene times this Sub-
order was represented by a very large number of different forms,
it is now so deficient in s})ecies and individuals that it must be
su])posed to be in a more or less decadent condition.

Of the Rhinoceroses there are five or six known species, all
large animals, with such thick and unyielding skins as to neces-
sitate in some the foi’ination of deep folds to enable them to move
their limbs with any facility, and with three toes on each foot. The
horns, which arc })laced on their muzzles, differ essentially in structure
from those of other Mammals, being composed of modified and
agglutinated hairs.

4’his grouj) is no\v restricted to the African and Indian regions.

RHINOCEROS.

37

but in former times they were spread over all Europe, Asia, and
America. One of them {R. tichorhmus) , a native of Europe and
N. Asia, was invested with a coat of thick woolly hairs, just like
its contemporary, the Mammoth. Specimens of the following
species are exhibited on the left of the Saloon : —

The Indian Two-horned Rhinoceros {R. niger)^ a native of the
Malayan peninsula, one of the rarest of the genus. The Common
African Black Rhinoceros {R. bicornis), found all over Africa. It
is distinguished from the next species by its elongated and pre-
hensile upper lip, smaller size, and different habits. Its two horns
are very variable in length, the front one being generally much
the longer of the two, but in some specimens the posterior horn is
as long as or longer than the anterior ; these latter specimens are
often considered to be a distinct species, to which the name of
“ Keitloa is given.

The White Rhinoceros [R. simus) of S. Africa, with a square
upper lip, is a large species, of which no full-grown specimens
have ever been sent to England. Its anterior horn is very slender,
and has been found to attain to a length of four feet ; the animal
being of a mild and timid disposition, and feeding chiefly on grass,
uses its horn rarely, either for digging or for attack. This species
is becoming very scarce and in danger of being exterminated,
which is the more to be regretted, as from all accounts it was
capable of being tamed. A young mounted specimen is placed
near the R. bicornis.

The large Indian Rhinoceros [R. unicornis), a one-horned species
from North-eastern India, of whieh a full-grown male is exhibited.

On the tops of Wall-cases 45, 46, 53, and 51, is a series of
Rhinoceros horns representing variations of growth.

The Tapirs [Tapirus) (Cases 35 and 36) are swamp-loving [Cases
animals, exeellent swimmers and divers, of which one species occurs 35 & 36.J
in Malaysia and the others in Central and South America — a
distribution which shows that at some former period of the
world^’s history they ranged all over the intervening countries,
through China, Kamtschatka, and North-west America. In fact
a fossil Chinese Tapir has been discovered in which the teeth
are so perfectly preserved as to show that the species can only
have become recently extinct. Of the five species of Tapir known

38

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

tlie Malayan has a white back, while the rest are nearly uniformly
black when adult, although all when young are marked with lon-
gitudinal stripes of yellow or white. They are thick-set animals,
with short ears, and with their nose elongated into a short pre-
hensile proboscis ; they have four toes on their fore, and three on
their hind feet.

In the Horses, Asses, and Zebras {Equida) the toes are reduced
in number to an extent entirely unique among the Mammalia,
there being only a single digit on each of the four feet, enormously
strengthened to bear the weight of the body, but yet retaining the
same composition as our own middle finger. The wild species of
this family are indigenous in the open plains of Asia and Africa.
The herds of Wild Horses now found in America are the de-
scendants of domesticated and introduced animals. Curiously
enough, however, that continent was in former ages the head-
quarters of the family, many different forms having been there
developed, and become again entirely extinct.

The two Cases in the centre of the Gallery show several members
of the family, as, for instance, the nearly extinct true Zebra [Equus
zebra) ; the comparatively common BurchelPs Zebra [Equus bur-
chelli) of Central South Africa, distinguished by the different
arrangement of the stripes on the body; the "Wild Ass of Central
Asia; and several interesting cross-breeds between difi'erent members
of the Horse family.

Sub orde r A rt i o da c t y la .

The Artiodactyla, or Even-toed Ungulates, are distinguished by
having the two central hoofs of each foot equal in size. They
consist of two very distinct groups. The members of tlie first are
the Hippopotami and Pigs, which are non-ruininant, the second
comprising all the Ruminants, or Mammals that chew the cud.

Of the Hippopofamidce, which were once extremely numerous in
this country, in Southern Europe, and India, only two species
have survived, viz. the Common Hi[)popotamus [H. amphibius),
too well known to require further notice, and of which several
stuffed specimens are exhibited in the Saloon ; and the much
smaller Liberian Hi})popotamus (Case 37), which does not exceed a
M lid Boar in size, and occurs only in a few localities in AVest Africa.

PIGS.

39

The Pigs, or Siiidce (Cases 37-40), are distinguished by their
long snout, fattened in front, small eyes, four-toed feet, short
tails, strongly- built bodies, and in disposition by their remarkable
courage and ferocity. They are represented in the Old World
by the genus Sus, of which the Wild Boar of the continent of
Europe may be looked upon as the most typical species. This
animal, unlike its domesticated descendant, our Common Pig, is
covered all over with thick grizzled hair, has a longer and narrower
head, and great projecting tusks, with which it can rip up and kill
a man at a stroke. The species is spread all over Europe (now
exterminated in England), North Africa, and Western Asia, being
replaced in China and India by another very closely-allied animal,
almost identical in external appearance {Sus cristatm).

Other noteworthy Old-World species are: — The Papuan Pig {Sus
papuensis) of New Guinea (Case 38) ; the Wart-Hog {Phacochoerus)
and the peculiarly-coloured Biver-Hog {Potamochcerus) of Tropical
Africa (Cases 37 and 38); the Babirusa {Babirusa aJfurus)oi Celebes
(Case 40, above), an extraordinary hairless species, with long,
upwardly-curved tusks, which in old age may grow so long as to
describe an almost complete circle. The Pygmy Hog {Sus salvanius),
of Nepal and Assam, is noticeable for its diminutive size, being
seldom more than one foot in height and two in length; but is in
other respects quite similar to the ordinary Pigs.

In the New World, Pigs are represented by the Peccaries
{Dicotyles) (Case 39), animals much smaller than an ordinary Wild
Boar, and differing in their skulls and dentition from the Old-World
Suidse. Especially noteworthy is the fact that the upper canine
teeth do not project outwards and upwards, and are therefore less
formidable weapons than the Boar’s tusks ; but, notwithstand-
ing this, the Peccaries are more dangerous to man than any other
of the Pig-tribe, as they herd together in bands of from 15 to 40,
and make most determined attacks on any person the moment they
are aware of his presence ; unless he is able to take refuge in a tree,
or to kill nearly the whole of the band, he is very likely to fall a
victim to their ferocity. They are themselves preyed upon by the
Jaguar and Anaconda.

The second great group of the Artiodactyles consists of the
Ruminants, and contains (1) the Tylopoda or Camel tribe, (2) the

40

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

Ti aguUna or Chevrotains, and (3) the Pecora, or the Oxen, Ante-
lopes and Deer, and the Giraffe.

The molars of all these ^lammals consist of two pairs of crescent-
shaped lobes, and their stomach is composed of four, or, rarely,
three divisions, from one of which their food is returned to their

Fi-. FT

Stomach of a Sheep, cut open to show the internal structure.

ce, oesophagus, or gullet ; ru, rumen, or paunch ; ret, reticulum, or honey-
comb; psalterium, or manvplies; ah, abomasum; py, pylorus; dii,
duodenum, the commencement of the small intestine.

mouth after it has been swallowed, in order to be chewed a second
time, a process known as ruminating or chewing the cud.

(1) The Tylopoda, the Camels and Llamas, are distinguished
from the other Ungulates by their elongate and prehensile upper
lip, their thick woolly fur, long neck and legs, two-toed feet, the
})ads of skin beneath their hoofs (whence the name Tylopoda, or
pad-footed their eomplicated stomach, whose walls contain a
])eculiar set of large cavities, the so-called water-cells (suj)posed,
though with much doubt, to be for the jmrpose of storing water),
their oval blood -corpuscles (all other jMammals having round
ones), and by numerous other sjiecial characters. The first genus,
Camelus, contains the Dromedary and the Camel, both domesti-
cated, and ranging from North Africa, through Arabia, Persia, and
Central Asia, to India. The Dromedary, with one hump on the
hack, is not known in a wild state; while the two-humped Canud
[C. bactrianus) has recently been discovered living in a wild state by
Russian travellers in the mountain-ranges of Central Asia. Even
these, however, are supposed by some authors to be the descendants
of domesticated individuals. The humps are large masses of fatty
substance serving as a store of nutriment, which during periods
of scarcity of food is gradually absorbed, and replenished when

LLAMAS.

41

the animals meet again with abundant pasturage. As they also
have the power of retaining water in their capacious stomachs
for more than a week, Camels are quite invaluable as carriers in
desert countries, where food and water cannot regularly be obtained,
although in disposition they are both obstinate and ill-tempered,
and are said never to attach themselves to their masters.

The second genus of the Tylopoda is Lama, containing two [Cases
species — the Huanaco, which is the wild form of the domesticated ^9-42.]
Llama and Alpaca, and the much smaller Vicuna. They are

natives of the Andes and adjoining plateaus of South America;

the domesticated forms being used as beasts of burden in the
same way as the Camels ; their wool, especially that of the Alpaca,
is long and line, and of considerable value. They are without
humps on their backs, and much smaller and more lightly built
than the Camels. The wide distance which separates the Llamas
from the Camels at the present time has been partially bridged over
by the recent discoveries of a large number of fossils referable

to this group in North America, near the Rocky Mountains.

Specimens of each of the two species of Camels are placed in the
centre of the Recess facing the Llamas, which are in Cases 39 to 42.

(2) The Tragulina, or Chevrotains (Case 42), are a group of [Case 42,]
small deer-like animals, of about the size of rabbits. Their feet are

more like those of pigs, and their stomachs have only three, instead
of four divisions. There are two genera in the group, namely,

Tragulus, with five or six beautiful little species, ranging from India
to Borneo ; and Dorcatherium, with but one, the Water-Chevrotain
(D. aquaticus), of Western Africa.

(3) The Pecora consist of a very large number of closely related
animals, characterized by their generally lightly-built and graceful
forms, their long narrow ears, large eyes, rudimentary or absent
outer toes, absence of teeth in front of the upper jaw, and their com-
plicated stomachs, which consist of four compartments. Among
themselves they differ but little, at least in the more important
characters, the horns and antlers, with which the males of most of
the species are furnished, affording the most important points by
which they can be subdivided.

The families of Pecora are the following : — The Bovidce, or Bull
tribe, containing the Oxen, Sheep, Antelopes, and Gazelles, is
distinguished by the possession of true horns, present for the most

42

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

part ill both sexes. Each born consists of a bony core (an extension
of the frontal bone of the skull), surrounded by the fibrous horn-
substance, which grows from the base, while it is worn away at the
tip, and which is never dropped off entire. This horn is never
branched, but consists of a single hollow stem, which in the dif-
ferent species varies considerably both in shape and size, as may be
seen by an examination of the fine series placed along the tops
of the Cases in the Osteological Gallery.

The most remarkable specimens of Wild and Domesticated
Cattle are exhibited in the Saloon and the adjoining part of the
Gallery, viz. : — The head of a Hungarian Bull, as a representative
of the Common Domesticated Ox {Bus taurus), the numerous races
of which have been produced partly by crossing originally wild
species {Bos primigenius, Bos longifrons, Bos frontosiis), which
now survive in their domesticated descendants only, and partly
by artificial selection. A Brahmin Bull or Zebu {Bos indicus),
the sacred Cattle of the Hindoos ; this specimen was bred
from a pair presented by Her Majesty to the Zoological Society,
and was thirteen years old at the time of its death in 188f.
A pair of the Gaur {Bos ganrus), a native of North and Central
India, almost untamable, and strong enough to hold its own against
the Tiger. A Gayal {Bos frontalis), a species living domesticated
in Assam and the neighbouring countries, but not known, at least
in that region, to occur wild ; it is said by some authorities to be
a modified domestic race of the Gaur, but by others, with more
probability, to be a distinct species, of which wild specimens have
been obtained in the mountains of Tenasserim. X Banteng {Bos
sondaicus) , the indigenous Cattle of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo.
No specimen of the Common Buffalo {Bus buhahis) is exhibited at
present; but numerous horns, showing the varieties of size and
shape, are fixed on the wall of the Osteological Saloon. The
Buffalo attains its greatest development in its original home, India,
where one race (called the Ann) is armed with horns upwards of
6 feet in length; it ranges into North Africa and South Europe.
A pair of the wild Buffalo of South Africa {B. caffer) are ex-
hibited, showing their enormously thick solid horns, the bases of
which almost touch each other in the middle of the forehead.
The European Bison or Wizent {B. honasus), originally a native
of the large forests of Europe, now restricted to the Caucasus, whence

MUSK-OX.

43

came the pair of specimens presented by Mr. St. G. Littledale^ and
to the forest of Bialowicza in Lithuania, where it is protected by
the Emperor of Russia, the donor of the fine Bull exhibited sepa-
rately. The American Bison, erroneously called Buffalo {B. ameri-
canus), which, except where protected, is now practically extinct,
but which used to wander in innumerable herds over the prairies
of North America, forming the chief means of subsistence to tribes
of Indians, equally doomed to speedy extinction. Finally, the MTld
Ox of Central Asia, the Yak {Bos grunniens) , partly reclaimed and
domesticated in Tibet and Mongolia.

The Musk-Ox [Ovibos moschatus) is represented by a remark-
ably fine series in Cases 57-60, for which we are indebted to the
various British Arctic Expeditions. It is covered all over with very

Fig. 16.

The Musk-Ox. (Discovery Bay ; Voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Alert.’)

long hair, often nearly two feet in length, and with a thick woolly
under-fur. It inhabits the Polar regions of the Western Hemi-
sphere, between the 60th and 83rd parallels of latitude, and is
found in herds of from 10 to 30. It is surprising that so large an
animal should be able to subsist during the long Arctic winter on
the scanty vegetation of those regions. When fat its flesh is
well -flavoured, but lean animals smell strongly of musk. Notwith-
standing the shortness of its legs, the Musk-Ox runs fast, and

44

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

[Cases

47-52.J

climbs rocks and precipices with as great ease as a Wild Sheep, to
which it is more allied than to the Ox tribe.

Ihe Sheep form a small group, well characterized by their thick,
heavy, and transversely-ridged horns, curved spirally outwards,
and by their jieculiar physiognomy, quite distinct from that of all
their allies. Some of the wild species are as large as a donkey,
and their horns are of enormous weight and strength. The
specimens are placed in the large Case against the north wall of
the Saloon, on the top of which are also some of the finest pairs of
horns, the remainder being arranged in the Osteological Gallery.
The most worthy of note are:— The Wild Sheep of Cyprus {Ovis
ojj/iion) j the races inhabiting the Alpine ranges and plateaus of

Fig. 17.

Marco Polo’s Sheep.

Central Asia [Ovis poll, Ovis hodgsoni, Ovis ammon, Ovis cgclocer os) >
of the first of these {Ovis poll), besides those in the case in the
Saloon, a particularly fine series, shot and presented by St. George
Littledale, Esq., are exhibited in the Central Case near the entrance
to the Gallery ; the Wild Sheep of Kamtschatka and Xorth-western
America (0. nivicola) ] the Bighorn of North America {0. cana-
densis); the Mufflon of Corsica and Sardinia {0. musinion) ; the
Burrhel (0. nahura) ; and, finally, the very peculiar, long-haired,
long-bearded Barbary Sheep {Amniotragus tr ag el aphus) , with horns
quite different both in character and direction Irom those of all its
allies. Of the horns exhibited, by far the finest are those of Marco
Polo’s Sheep {O.poli), of the Pamir Plateau, Central Asia, of which
the tips of the two horns are 5G inches apart, while each horn
measures along the curves 64 inches, and describes more than a circle
and a quarter when viewed from the side. Still larger examples are
jdaced in the Osteological Gallery above. The habits of the different
Sheep are all very similar : they live in highlands, some of the

GOATS.

45

Himalayan species being seldom found lower than from 12,000 to
16,000 feet above the sea, climb with great facility, and are of all
game the most wary and difficult of approach. It is almost impos-
sible to ascertain now which of the Wild Sheep represent the
ancestral stock from which the domestic races have descended.
Probably, as in the case of oxen and dogs, they have a mixed
origin from several distinct wild species.

The Goats are distinguished from the Sheep by their laterally
flattened horns, which are placed more upright on the head and
curve nearly directly backwards, often almost touching each other
at their tips, by their long beards, shorter and less thickly-haired
tails, and their strong, disagreeable odour. The Wild Goat
(^Capra cegagrus), of the mountains of South-western Asia (Cases 53
and 54), is certainly the ancestor of our common domestic animal,
which is in some respects degenerated, being much smaller, and
possessing horns not half the size of those of the wild stock. The
specimens in the Case were obtained in the Taurus Mountains of
Asia Minor, and on Mount Ararat.

The other Wild Goats, such as the Wild Goats of the Caucasus
[Capra caucasica and pallasii), the Pyrenean Thar [C. pyrenaica) ,
and the Ibexes of the Himalayas, Alps, and Pyrenees, are exhibited
in Cases 45, 61 to 66.

The next group is that of the Antelopes and Gazelles (Cases 67
to 83), distinguished by their light build, bright colours, and
slender and variously curved horns. They are found in their fullest
development in Tropical Africa, more than three fourths of the
species being restricted to that continent. As might be expected
from this fact, they are all peculiarly suited to life in open plains
and deserts, being very swift of foot, and, as a rule, of such a
colour as to harmonize well with their general surroundings.

Of the Antelopes exhibited, too numerous and too closely allied
for a detailed description here, the following may be noted : —

The Elands of Central and South Africa [Oreas), the largest of
the group, and formerly acclimatized in this country, are placed in
a separate case in the Saloon.

The beautiful Lechee Antelope [Kobus lecliee) . (Cases 67 and 68.)

The M"ater-Buck [Kobus ellipsiprymnus) (between Cases 63 and
66), and the Sing-Sing from Abyssinia [Kobus defassus) (between
Cases 67-70).

[Cases
53 & 54.]

[Cases 45,
61-66.]

[Cases

67-83.]

46

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

The Sable and Roan Antelopes {Hippotragus nhjer and leuco-
phmts). Between 25 and 28 on the left, and 71 and 74 on the
i-ii>-ht side of the Gallery.

The Bush-bncks (Cephalulophus'^, some scarcely larger than
rabbits; found all over Africa. (Case 71.)

The Dwarf Antelopes [Xeotragus and Xanotragus) , the former
with elongated tubular nostrils. (Between Cases 71 and 72.)

The Saiga [Saiga tartarica), a very aberrant and peculiar
species, a native of Russia and South Siberia, which has a still more
elongated and tapir-like snout. (Case 73.)

The Gemsbock [Oryx gazella) (between Cases 91 and 9d), and
the Beisa Antelope of Abyssinia [Oryx heisa). (Case 74.)

The Gazelles [Gazelln) (Cases 75 to 77) with their close allies,
the curious long-necked Gerenook [Lithocranius walleri) and
Clarke'^s Gazelle (Ammodorcas clarkei) .

The spiral-horned Indian Antelope or Blaek Buck [Antilope
cervicapra). (Case 78.)

A fine male specimen and a younger female of the so-called
Mountain-Goat of North America, a ^Mountain-Antelope, inhabiting
the wildest parts of the northern Rocky jMountains {Haplocerus
wontanus) , are temporarily placed in the Saloon. (Case 46.)

Specimens of the Chamois from the Alps, Transylvania, and the
Caucasus [Rupicapra tragus), (Case 79.)

The Harnessed Antelopes [Tragelaphus], (Cases 81 and 82.)

The Kudu [Strepsiceros kmlu), one of the handsomest and
largest Antelopes. (Between Cases 9 and 12 on the left, and 87
and 90 on the right.)

The Gnus [Connochetes) , grotesquely built animals, which appear
to have the head and fore-quarters of a bufialo, with the hind-
quarters and tail of a pony. (Case 83.)

Several species of Ilartebcest [Alcelaplius caama, between Cases
29 and 32; Alcelaplius tora, between Cases 33 and 36; Alcelaplius
lichtemteinii, between Cases 37 and 40). S])eciniens of the
Sassayby [Danialis lunatus) are exhibited in the same Case with the
Ca])e Ilartebeest and of Hunter’s Antelope [Damalis hunter i) with
Alcelaplius tora.

[Case 84.] The Antilocaprulce, the second family of the Pecora, contains
only a single sjiecies, the Pronghorn of North America [Antilo-
capra americana) (Case 84), the only one of the hollow-horned

DEER.

47

Ruminants in which the horns are bifurcated, and are shed and
renewed annually, the horny sheath slipping off its bony core, and
being replaced by a fresh horny growth, a process wholly unlike
anything found either in the Antelopes or Deer. In its habits it
resembles the Antelopes, and is found in the open prairies of
North America.

The GiraffidcB, containing only the Giraffe {Giraffa Camelopar-
dalis), of which a stuffed specimen 17 ft. 4 in. in height, and a
skeleton are placed in the centre of the Saloon. Its true horns are
two in number, small, solid, persistent, and covered with hair, but it
has besides a bony protuberance on the middle of the face, which
increases with age, and in old animals appears as a third horn; it
has only two toes on each foot, the outer ones being entirely absent.
At the present time Giraffes are being driven further and further
back into the centre of Africa, over the whole of which they used to
range, like the other large animals of that continent, and it is feared
that before very long the species will be entirely exterminated.
Giraffes browse partly on ground vegetation, partly on the leaves of
trees, their great height and long extensile tongues enabling them
to strip branches which are far out of the reach of other animals.

The Cervidce, or Deer family, consists of a very large number of
genera and species inhabiting Europe, Asia, and America, but is,
except for one species found in Barbary, entirely unrepresented
in Africa. They are distinguished from the other Ruminants by
their antlers, which in the majority of the species are present in
the males only. Antlers are bony outgrowths of the frontal part
of the skull, annually shed and renewed, without any horny sheath
over them, but during growth covered with a sensitive hairy skin
provided with blood-vessels, the so-called velvet.'’"’ When they
have reached their full size, the blood-vessels become aborted at the
^^burr,"’-’ close to the skull, and the ^G^elvet'’"’ dries up and is
rubbed off; the antlers, then bare and non-sensitive, are ready
for their sole function — fighting. The time of the growth of
the antlers precedes the pairing-season ; after this is over, by a
process of absorption near the base, they become detached from
the skull, and are shed.^^ A more or less elongated portion or

pedicle’^ always remains on the skull, from the summit of which
the new antler grows next year. The antlers increase in strength
and complexity with the age of the animal, from the simple upright

48

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

snag of the one-year-old ” Brocket ” to the large inany-tined
antlers of the Royal llart/^ as the fully adult Red Deer is
generally called. These differences in the development of the
antlers are also those of species as well as of age, some of the Deer
never having more complex horns than a young Red Deer, while
others have no antlers at any age.

The series of separate antlers is placed on the tops of the Cases
all round the Gallery.

The following Deer may be specially mentioned : —

The Reindeer [Rangifer tarandufi), formerly ranging over the
greater part of Europe, is now found only in the northern regions
of both the Old and New Worlds. It is the only member of the
family in which both the male and female have antlers; and these
also are peculiar in not being quite alike on the two sides, the
great pal mated brow-antler being, as a rule, developed on one side
only. A set of European Reindeer are placed between Cases 17
and 20 on the left, and specimens from America between 79 and 82
on the right side of the Gallery. Only the European race has been
domesticated.

The Elk [Alces machlis) is the largest of the family, and also
circumpolar in its distribution. European specimens are placed
between 13 and 16 on the left, and American between 83 and 86
on the right.

The Wapiti [Cei'vus canadensis) from North America, repre-
sented by a stuffed male in Case 86.

The Muntjacs [Cermdus), a small Asiatic group, in which the
antlers are supported on long hair-covered pedicles of bone, longer
than the portion which is annually shed and renewed. (Above
Case 92.)

The Fallow Deer {Dama vulgaris), a native of Southern Europe
and Asia Minor; introduced into England at an early but uncer-
tain period, perha])s by the Romans. (Case 88.)

The Roebuck [Capreohis caprcea), formerly found in all forests
of Great Britain, but gradually driven to the north ; it has been
reintroduced in certain places in the south of England. There is,
for instance, a flourishing colony at Blandford, in Dorsetshire, a
fine male from which is exhibited, with others, in Case 91.

The Virginian and Mule Deer {Cariacus virginianus and
macrotis) of North America. (Cases 92 and 93.)

DEER.

49

The Pudu [Pudu humilis), of the Andes. (Case 93.)

The Peruvian Roebuck [Furcifer antisiensis), from the Peruvian
Andes. (Case 94.)

The Musk-Deer {Moschus moschiferus) differs in many impor-
tant structural characters from the other Deer^ especially by its
entire want of horns, and the great development of its canine
teeth, which project outside the mouth some way below the chin.
It is covered with a coat of long and thick hair, well adapted for
keeping out cold ; its toes are so articulated as to open out very
widely, an arrangement by which it is enabled to pass with ease
over deep snow\ It is an alpine animal, inhabiting the mountains
of Central Asia from Thibet to China and Siberia. The musk,^^
which is now used as a perfume rather than a medicinal drug,
continues to be a valuable article of trade. It is contained in a
pouch of the size of a small hen^s egg, on the lower part of the
abdomen of the male.

Order VIII. SIRENIA.

See Osteological Gallery, p. 94.

Order IX. CETACEA.

See Cetacean Gallery, p. 104.

Order X. EDENTATA.

(Cases 33 and 34.)

The Edentata, so named on account of the incompleteness of
their dentition, or entire want of teeth, contain several widely
different groups.

The first, that of the Pilosa or Hairy Edentates, comprises the
Sloths and Anteaters, which, though apparently very distinct, are
yet linked together by numerous fossils filling up the gap between
them.

The Sloths (Bradijpodidce) are characterized by their short round
heads, long fore legs, toes fastened together by skin and termi-
nating in long curved claws, and by their coat of coarse brittle
hairs. They are entirely tailless. They pass their whole existence
on trees, hanging by their long and powerful claws to the under-
side of the branches, never descending to the ground unless

E

[Case 33.]

50

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

compelled, and feeding on leaves and young twigs, for the masti-
cation of which their few and simple teeth are sufficiently well
suited. They are slow in their movements, but by no means so
helpless as is often supposed, although they escape their enemies
less by their own exertion than by the difficulty with which they
are distinguished from the branch to which they cling. They
inhabit the forests of Tropical America. The living species of
Sloths are not much larger than a cat ; but remains of an extinct
Sloth [Megatherium) occur in abundance in the Pampas of South
America, which exceeded an elephant in bulk. So ponderous an
animal could only live on the ground.

[Case 33.] The Anteaters [Myrmecophagiclce) have narrow heads with long
snouts, to accommodate their enormously long worm-like tongues ;
their tails are well developed, and in some species prehensile, their
toes separate from each other, as in ordinary mammals, and the
third on the fore foot is provided with a huge digging claw. Like
the Sloths, they are all natives of Tropical xAmerica. The Great
Anteater [Myrmecophaga jiihata) is about four feet in length and
has a long black mane along its back, and a thick bushy tail.
It is terrestrial in its habits, and feeds entirely on ants, which it
catches with its long sticky tongue, after having torn open their
nests with its powerful claws. Much smaller are the Tamanduas
and the Two-toed Anteater, the latter being scarcely larger than
a rat. Both lead an entirely arboreal life.

The Loricata, or Shielded Edentates, consist of the single family
Dasypodiche, or Armadilloes, remarkable for the thick plates of
ossified skin with M’hich their bodies are covered, and which form
immovable shields across the shoulders and hips, while the centre
of the back is protected by a greater or less number of transverse
bands of ])lates, jointed to each other by tiexible skin. The head and
tail are also covered by a mosaic of bony ])lates; but the belly and
the inner sides of the limbs are clothed with soft skin only. They
possess teeth, which are, however, of very simple character. Their
tore feet have a variable number of long and powerful claws, and
their hind feet have always five rather small claws. About twenty
s})ecics are known. Priorwdonma.vimus, the Giant Armadillo, is the
largest, measuring more than two feet in length ; while the smallest,
rarest, and in many respects the most interesting, is the Mole-
Armadillo [Chlamydophorus tnincatus), which has the outer shield

ARMADILLOES

51

attached to the hip-bones by peculiar bony processes. Like a
mole, it leads a subterranean life. The Three-banded Armadilloes

{Tohjpeutes) have the power of rolling themselves up into a perfect
ball like hedgehogs, the head and tail fitting into corresponding
notches in the dermal shield. Armadilloes are ground-animals.

E 2

52

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

able to burrow in the soil with surprising rapidity, either with the
object of escaping danger or in search of their food, which consists
of roots, insects, worms, reptiles, and carrion. They are found in
the warmer parts of America only, where also the remains of their
extinct gigantic predecessors {Glyptodon) occur in great abundance.

[Case o4.] Iq the Old World the Edentata are represented by the Manidcey
or Pangolins, which, with their long scaly bodies and tails, and
their short legs, look more like rej)tiles than mammals. Like the
Anteaters they are toothless, and live similarly on ants, which they
catch with their tongues. The scales may be looked upon as hairs,
or rather spines, enormously enlarged and dilated. Their long,
strong, and broad tails form part of the protective armour when
they coil themselves up into a ball like an Armadillo, or they use
them as supports in climbing the trunk of a tree. Some species

Fig. 19.

Aard-vark {Oryctcropus afer).

rest themselves on the tail, which is adpressed to a trunk, whilst the
body is thrown backwards and assumes the appearance of a pro-
jecting broken branch (fig. 18) . In order to keep their claws sharp
they walk with them closed up against the palms of the feet, the
backs only of the toes touching the ground. In all there are
seven species of Pangolins, of which four are African and three
Asiatic.

[Case ^14.] The Tuhulidentata, or Tube-toothed Edentates, consist of one
species only, the Aard-vark [Orycteropus ofer), a native of the
whole of Africa, strikingly different from all other Edentates
(fig. 19). Aard-varks are distinguished externally by their long,

MARSUPIALIA.

53

low, hair-covered bodies, long snouts and tongues, large ears,
stout powerful tails, and short thick limbs. They have four
toes on their fore, and five on their hind feet, all modified for
digging, their manner of life being very similar to that of the
Great Anteater, as they feed chiefly on ants and other small
animals. An adult specimen placed in Case 34 will show
the eurious appearanee of these animals, which induced the early
Duteh settlers in the Cape to compare them to pigs, and to name
them Aard-varks, i. e. Ground-pigs.

Order XL MARSUPIALIA.

(Cases 95-98.)

This Order differs by numerous and important anatomical
characters from all the previous Orders. There is, moreover, a
curious parallelism between its members and the preceding Orders,
inasmuch as the Marsupials include forms representative of the
herbivorous, carnivorous, and insectivorous types of the other
Alammalia, a fact which must appear to be all the more significant
as the oldest Mammalia known, from the Secondary period, are
jMarsupials, which then w^re spread probably over the greater
portion of the globe, and lived in numerous genera and species in
Great Britain and other parts of Europe.

The females of most Marsupials * possess a peculiar pouch of
skin on their bellies, a character which gives the name to the
Order. In this pouch the young, which are in a very embryonic
condition when born, continue their development, adhering at first
firmly to the nipples, and using the pouch afterwards for a long
time as a place of refuge until able to take care of themselves. In
fact, functionally, the pouch of a Marsupial corresponds to the nest
constructed by a mammal or a bird for its progeny.

The geographical distribution of this Order is highly remarkable,
one family out of seven being found in South America, while all
the rest are entirely confined to the Australian region.

The families generally recognized are ; — I. The Kangaroos
{Macropodidce) (Cases 95 and 96), herbivorous animals with dis- [Cases
proportionately large hind limbs and long powerful tails, both of ^
which they use in leaping or in assuming an erect position, putting
* = a pouch.

54

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

their short fore feet to the ground only when feeding or walking.
Their hind feet are of very peculiar structure, the great mass of
the foot being made up of the much-developed fourth toe, while
the first, corresponding to our great toe, is entirely absent; and
the second and third, although long, are so slender and w'eak as
to be quite useless, and are bound up in a common skin to the
nails. This structure of the foot is not confined to the Kangaroos,
but is also found in certain of the other families.

Kangaroos vary in size from species as large as a man to
others smaller than a rabbit, such as the Kat- Kangaroos {Hijpsi-

Fig. 20.

Kangaroo from Ne\v South Wales (Ilahnaturus jmrnji).

prymniis or Potorous). Of those exhibited may be specially
mentioned the Great Woolly Kangaroo (^Macropus rvfus), the
largest of the family, and the beautiful Yellow-footed Wallaby [Pe-
trogale xanthopus) most brightly coloured species of the family.

2. The Phalangers {Phalangeridoi) form a large and varied
group, to which belong: —

PHALANGERS.

55

The shrew-like Tarsipes, a little long-nosed animal with an
extensile tongue, and with three distinct stripes down its back ;
it feeds on insects and honey, and is confined to Western
Australia.

Fig. 21.

Common Wombat {Phascolomys mitcJielli).

The true Phalangers (Phalangista or Ti'ichosurus)^ cat-like
animals, with thick fur and long bushy tails ; the finely-marked
Striped [Dactylupsila trivirgata) of New Guinea; the

Dormouse Phalangers [Dromicia) ; the Bare-tailed Phalangers
[Cuscus or Phalanger) ; and, finally, the Flying Phalangers (^Petau-
7'us), which, like the flying squirrels, have a lateral extension of the
skin of the body, forming a parachute : are all closely related to
each other, and form the great mass of the present family.

The Koala [Phascolarctus cinereus) is a curious species, some-
what similar, in its general appearance, to a little bear, but is
entirely a vegetable feeder, living chiefly on the leaves of the
Eucalyptus. It is of a harmless and peaceable disposition, of about
the same size as the W^ombats, with long ashy-grey hair, tufted
ears, no tail, and five toes on each of its feet.

3. The Wombats (^Phascolomyidae) (fig. 21) are large clumsily-
built animals, somewhat resembling marmots in their general form ;
they have short, rounded heads, short ears, scarcely any tail, and
long powerful claws with which they dig their burrows. There

56

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

are three species^ all very similar externally, distributed over the
whole of Australia and Tasmania, and living on roots and other
vegetable food. They often exceed 100 lb. in weight, and are
valued as food.

[Case 07.] 4. The Bandicoots [Peramelida) are distinguished by the struc-

ture of their fore feet — in which two or three of the middle toes
are long and subequal, wdiile the others are quite rudimentary — by
the Kangaroo-like structure of their hind feet, and by the large
number of their low'er incisor teeth, of which there are six, the
Kangaroos having tw^o only in this position. The most striking

Fig. 22.

Tasmauiau \\ o\( {Thijlaciims cynocephalus).

members of the family are : — The Striped Bandicoot [Perameles
fasciata) of Tasmania ; the Long-nosed Bandicoot (P. raffrayana)
of New Guinea ; the long-eared rabbit-like Perngale lagotis of
AVestern Australia ; and the extraordinary little Pig-footed Ban-
dicoot (Choeropus casianotis), an animal somewhat resembling a
rat, but with fore feet which remind us of those of a pig.

5. Allied to the Peramelidce are the carnivorous Dasyurid(2, in
which the feet are of the ordinary mammalian type, with five toes
on the fore and four on the hind pair. To this family belong : —

OPOSSUMS.

57

The Tasmanian Wolf (Thylacinus cynocephalus) (fig. 22), an
animal remarkably like a striped dog, both in its external form
and the general shape of its skull. For a long time it was the
bane of the Tasmanian settlers, owing to the havoc it created
among their sheep, but it has now been nearly exterminated, and
at no distant period it will be quite extinct. No Thylacines now
live on the continent of Australia, but their fossil remains have
been found in bone-caves in New South Wales.

The Dasyures (Case 97) are small animals of about the size and
proportions of a cat. They are wholly carnivorous in their habits,
living on eggs, small birds and mammals, and on insects. One
of them is the well-known Tasmanian Devil {Sarcophilus ursinus),
which has earned its English name by its untameable disposition
and the damage it does to poultry and game.

The animals named Phascologale and Sminthopsis are still
smaller than the last, many of them with a striking resemblance to
ordinary mice, both in size and colour.

The Marsupial Anteater (^Myi'mecobius fasciatus) is one of the
few mammals marked with cross bars. It is of about the size and
shape of a squirrel, but has a long pointed snout and extensile
tongue, with which it catches ants and other small insects. It is a
native of M^estern Australia.

6. The Opossums {Didelphyid<je) are the only living extra-
Australian members of the Order, being limited to the American
continent, where they range from the United States to Patagonia,
the number of species being greatest in the more tropical parts.

Opossums are characterized by their slender build, long noses,
well-developed prehensile tails, and above all by their hind feet
being provided with a hallux or great toe, which, like that of the [Case 98.]
monkeys, is opposed to the other toes, and enables the animal to
grasp boughs or other objects ; the thumb is without nail or claw,
and has only a broad, flat, fleshy pad at its tip. Of the Didel-
phyid(B the most worthy of mention is the Common Opossum
{Didelphys marsupialis) , a native of America, from the United
States to Brazil, and everywhere found in great abundance. It is
of the size of a cat, and feeds on all sorts of animal and vegetable
substances, living even in towns, where it acts as a natural
scavenger. Other South- American species are smaller, some little
larger than a mouse. The females carry their young on the back,

58

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

the latter using their prehensile tails by twisting them round that
of their mother.

Fig. 23.

Opossum {JDidelphys Iciniyera).

The Yapock [Chironectes] differs from the Opossums by having
its toes webbed like those of an otter ; it is wholly aquatic in its
habits^ and lives on water-beetles and crustaceans. Its colour is
of a general ashy-grey, with five or six broad slaty-brown bands
across the back, standing out in high relief against the ground-
colour of the body.

7. The family Notoryctidce consists of a single and most remark-
able animal recently discovered in the sandy deserts of the centre of
Australia, the Marsupial Mole {Xotoryctes typMops). This little
animal bears very much the same relation in its structure and habits
to the other Marsupials, that the Moles and Golden Moles (p. 26)
do to the other Insectivores, and the Rodent Moles (p. 33) do to the
other Rodents. It lives entirely underground, burrowung in the
sandy soil, and feeding on worms, larvae, &c. Its snout is provided
with a peculiar naked pad or shield with which it forces its w'ay
through the earth ; its tail is short and entirely naked ; its eyes are
practically aborted, as also are its ears ; and its fore feet, with which
it burrows, are modified somewhat in the same way as are those of

MONOTREMATA.

59

the Golden Moles [Chnjsochloris) (See woodcut_, p. 25)^ the third
and fourth digits bearing large digging claws, while those of the
other three are small and slender.

Order XII. MONOTREMATA.

(Case 98.)

The Order Monotremata, like the Marsupialia, represents by
itself one of the primary sections or subclasses into which the
Mammals are divided. In all their anatomical characters these
animals show a remarkably low type of organization, a type trans-
mitted more or less directly from some of the earliest Mammalian
forms.

Fig. 24.

Echidna acideata.

The Monotremes lay eggs and have pouches, but their mode of
incubation is not yet satisfactorily known ; they are without true
mammary nipples, the mother’s milk exuding from groups of pores in
the skin. The males are provided with remarkable horny spurs on
their heels, connected with a small gland on the back of the thigh,
the function of which is entirely unknown. The temperature of
the blood is lower than that of other mammals, recent observations
having shown that that of Echidna stands only at about 78°,
some 20° lower than that of man, and about 30° below that of
the average of birds.

The few living species of Monotremata are referred to two
families, the first being the Echidnidcc, characterized by the long

60

MAMMALIAN GALLERY.

narrow snout, small mouth, long worm-like tongue, entire want of
teeth of any sort, rudimentary tail, free toes with stout digging
claws, and spiny porcupine-like coats. The family contains two
species, one with five toes to each foot, from Australia as well as
New Guinea; and the Three-toed Echidna [Pi'oechidna bi'vijnii) ,
an animal which is confined to the mountainous region of Northern
New Guinea.

All Echidnas live exclusively on ants, which they catch with
their long extensile tongues, like the true Anteaters. Their palates
are covered with rows of horny spines, which serve to scrape
the ants off the tongue when it is withdrawn into the mouth.
Echidnas are able, by the help of their strong curved claws, to
bury themselves in loose soil in a very few minutes.

Fig. 25,

Australian Water-Mole {^Oniithorhynchus anatinus).

The second family of the Order is the OniithorhynchidrB,
distinguished by the extraordinary structure of the muzzle, which
resembles the bill of a duck, and is provided with horny lamellae,
which in the adult serve the purpose fulfilled during youth by
deciduous true teeth ; the tail is long and broad, and the toes are
webbed ; its coat consists of thick, close hair without any spines.

The only species is the Duck-billed Platypus (^Ornithorhynchus
anatinus), or AYater-jMole of the colonists, which, as might be ex-
pected from its structure, is entirely an aquatic animal, feeding on
water-animals, for which it searches in the mud in the same manner
as a duck. Like the Echidna it is a native both of Australia and
Tasmania, but has not been found in New Guinea.

61

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

In this Gallery are exhibited the skeletons and skulls of the Mam-
malia, their order commencing on the left and running round the
Wall-Cases, as in the Mammalian Gallery. In the centre of the
room are arranged skeletons which are too large to be placed in
the Cases, and on the tops of the latter are the horns of the
^^hollow-horned Ruminants, viz. Oxen, Sheep, and Antelopes.
The largest skeletons (of Elephants, Giraffe, &c.) are exhibited in
the Saloon at the end of the Gallery, together with the collection
of Sirenia or Sea-Cows.

Visitors who desire to understand the modifications of the bony
framework of the various types of Mammalia would do well to gain
some idea of the bones of which a normal Mammalian skeleton
is made up, and for this purpose the following woodcuts have been
prepared. Fig. 26 is the skeleton of a Lioness, and fig. 27 the
skull of a Dog divided down the centre to show its interior.

The skeleton of a Mammal consists of an axial portion, contain-
ing the bones belonging to the central axis of the body, viz. the
skull, vertebral column, ribs, and breast-bone ; and an appendicular
portion, comprising those which form the limbs, and the girdles of
bone by which the limbs are attached to the vertebral column.

The skull is the portion of the axial skeleton which is by far
the most important to the systematic zoologist, who bases in great
part his classification of the Mammalia on the variations presented
by the skull and teeth, which latter, although really no part of the
internal skeleton, have, from their intimate relation with the skull,
to be treated as though they belonged to it.

The skull consists of three parts — (1) the cranium, a compli-
cated framework of bones united together to form a case for the

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY

62

Skeleton of a Lioness.

C(l, caudal vertehrne ; cp, carjnis ; or, coracoid ; cv, cervical vertebra? ; r/, dorsal v('rlebrin ; fh, fibula ;
fm, femur; bnmerus; //, ilium ; inch, iscliium ; I, lumbar vertel)ra? ; ?//, nuMatarsus; ?ac, meta-
carpus; ])atella ; pubis ; 7;//, ])balan(res ; ])elvis; r, radius; n, sacral verlebrcU ; sc, sca-
pula; sk, skull ; th, tibia; ts, tarsus ; n, ulna; zy, zygomatic arch.

SKELETON OF MAMMALIA.

63

Fig. 27.

Skull of a Dog, divided down the centre to show the
internal structure.

an, anterior nasal opening ; as, alisphenoid ; ho, basioccipital ; hs, hasi-
sphenoid ; c, canine teeth ; cd, condyle ; ce, cribriform plate ; cp, coro-
noid process ; exo, exoccipital ; fr, frontal ; h, hyoid j i, incisor teeth ;
id, inferior dental canal ; interparietal ; m, molar teeth ; me, mes-
ethmoid ; mx, maxilla ; na, nasal ; os, orbitosphenoid ; pa, parietal ;
per, periotic ; pi, palatine 5 jmi, premolar teeth ; ^niix, premaxilla 5
p>s, presphenoid ; pt, pterygoid ; s, symphysis of mandible ; so, supra-
orbital; t, turbinal; vo, vomer; the asterisk indicates the part of the
cranium to which the lower jaw is articulated.

brain, and a support and protection to the organs of smell, sight,
hearing, and taste ; (2) the mandible, or lower jaw ; and (3) the
hyoid arch, or tongue-bones.

The cranium forms in its posterior half a large hollow case for
the reception of the brain, and has along its base numerous perfo-
rations, or foramina, for the passage of the nerves and blood-
vessels ; in front of this case, and separated from it by a sieve-
like bone, the cribriform plate (fig. 27, ce), there is a bony tube,
open in front at the anterior nares [an), filled with light spongy

64

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

bones, the turhinal bones (^), and forming the narial or olfactory
chamber. Below this chamber, and forming in part its floor and
walls, is the jaw, composed of the maxillary and premaxillary bones
[nix andj5m<r), in which are implanted the upper teeth, the lower
ones being similarly fixed along the upper edge of the mandible.
In an upper view of the skull the component parts of its roof are
seen as paired bones placed one in front of the other along the
middle line. Of these the hindmost are the parietals (pa), pre-
ceded by the frontals (/r), and by the small and narrow nasal
bones (na), placed between the upper edges of the maxillary bone
where it rises to form the side- walls of the olfactory chamber.
External to these bones are the zygomatic arches (fig. 26, zy)^ which
serve to support and protect the masticatory muscles, and which
are more or less developed in direct proportion to the biting-power
of their owners. The hindmost part of the skull is made up of
the supraoccipital (so), a pair of exoccipitals (exo), and the basi-
occipjital (bo), surrounding the large opening through which the
spinal cord passes — the foramen magnum.

The mandible consists simply of a pair of solid bones, joined
together in front where they form the chin, but widely separate
behind, each with a high projecting branch, the coronoid process
(cp), for the attachment of the jaw-muscles, and an articular pro-
cess, the condyle [cd), which forms part of the hinge on which the
mandible works. This hinge is generally transverse to the general
axis of the skull ; but in some Orders, such as the Rodents, the
condyle is lengthened antero-posteriorly, and works in a correspond-
ing longitudinal depression in the base of the skull.

The hyoid apparatus (h) consists of a series of small bones
suspended from the posterior part of the cranium, and supporting
the larynx and root of the tongue.

The dentition of Mammals is of two kinds. In some few forms,
known as ^niomodout,^^ all the teeth are of one type or pattern
as in the Sloths, /Vrmadilloes, Dolphins, &c. ; the remainder, or
^Mieterodont Mammals, which form the great majority, are pro-
vided with teeth of several different types. Thus in the Dog^s skull
(fig. 27) the three small teeth fixed on each side in the premaxilla
{pmx) are the incisors, or cutting-teeth (i) ; next follows a long and
powerful tooth, known as the canine (c). Behind this there are

SKELETON OF MAMMALIA.

65

four cutting-edged premolars or false grinders {pm), and two flat-
tened true molars (m). In the lower jaw the same types of teeth
are represented, there being in the Dog three incisors, one canine,
four premolars, and three molars. These numbers vary greatly in
the different Orders of Mammalia, and for convenience of descrip-
tion the “ dental formula ” has been invented as a means of repre-
senting the number of each sort of tooth present in any animal.
That of the Dog would be — I. f, C. Pm. M. f x 2 = 42, the
letters indicating the sort, and the numerals the number of the
teeth present on each side of the upper and lower jaws.

A second dental division of the Mammalia is founded on the
fact that in some few forms, which are also chiefly homodont,^''
there is only a single set of teeth, whilst in others the adult denti-
tion is preceded by an earlier set, named the milk dentition, on
account of its generally being present during the period in which
the young animal is nourished by the milk of its mother, although
its duration does not coincide with that of the latter, the mdk-
teeth being in some cases shed or absorbed by the time the animal
is born. The Dolphins, Sloths, and some Armadilloes are examples
of animals with only a single set of teeth during their lives ; while
the great majority of Mammals, like Man, have two fully-developed
sets, viz, the milk-dentition and the permanent, the latter suc-
ceeding the former in a vertical direction.

The vertebral column consists of a variable number of ring-
shaped bones placed end to end, so as to form a long tube for the
reception of the spinal cord. The vertebrae are divided into five
groups (fig, 26), viz. : — the cervical [cv), or those of the neck,
nearly invariably seven in number; the dorsal {d), those of the
back, to which the ribs are attached; the lumbar (/), or loin ver-
tebrae ; the sacral {s), or those to which the hip-bones are fixed ;
and the caudal [cd), or those of the tail, ranging from 3 (in some
Bats) to 47 (in Microgale longicaudata, which is the longest-tailed
Mammal known).

The ribs are curved rods of bone, from 9 to 24 pairs in number,
which are attached to the sides of the dorsal vertebrae, and pass
round the body, the greater part of them joining in front to the
breast-bone, or sternum, while the remainder, known as the float-
ing or false ribs, have their ends quite free.

F

6G

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

Passing to the appendicular skeleton, we have to notice first the
anterior or shoulder-girdle, which in Mammals consists generally
of only two separate bones — the clavicle or collar-bone, very often
absent or imperfectly developed ; and the scapula (5c) or shoulder-
blade, to which latter there is firmly united a small projection of
bone, the coracoid (cr), representing a third girdle-bone, which is
separate in Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes, and also in the Mono-
tremes, the lowest of all the jMammalia.

The scapula is a more or less flattened triangular bone placed
outside the ribs, but not attached to them by bone, and with its
narrow end directed towards the ventral side of the body. At this
narrow end there is a hollow socket into which the head of the
upper arm-bone fits. Down the centre of the scapula on its outer
surface runs a long prominent ridge, which terminates below in a
prolonged process [acromion), to the tip of which the collar-bone,
when present, is attached ; its other end being united to the upper
part of the breast-bone.

The humerus [h), or upper arm, is the powerful bone placed
between the shoulder and elbow, and articulating above with the
scapula by a ball-and-socket joint, and below with the radius [r)
and ulna [u), the bones of the forearm, by a simple hinge-joint
allowing motion in one direction only.

The two bones of the forearm are joined below to the wrist-
bones, collectively called the carpus (cp), and succeeded first by
the metacarpals [mp), or palm-bones, and then by the phalanges
(ph), or finger-bones, usually three to each properly-developed
digit.

The posterior girdle or pelvis [pv] is comparatively strong and
rigid, firmly attached to the sacral part of the vertebral column.
Originally it consists of three distinct bones on each side — the
ilium [il), ischium [isch), and pubis [ph), corresponding, the first
to the scapula, and the two latter together to the coracoid ; but
soon they are so completely united as to appear to be but a single
bone.

The hind limbs themselves consist of a similar set of bones to
those of the anterior pair, viz. the femur [fm) , or thigh-bone, corre-
s])onding to the humerus, followed by the tibia [tb) and fibula [fb),
or shin-bones, representing the radius and ulna ; the tarsus [ts), or

SKELETON OF MAN.

67

ankle-bones^ corresponding to the carpus, and the metatarsals [m)
and toe-bones [ph) to the metacarpals and finger-bones.

The digits never exceed five in number on each limb, and are
often less numerous, being even in some cases, as in the Horse,
reduced to one.

Order I. PRIMATES.

The Primates (see p. 6) are, in their osteological characters,
distinguished from other Mammals by having their orbits com-
pletely surrounded by a bony plate, by always having clavicles
or collar-bones, by the presence, with but few exceptions, of five
digits on each extremity, the first digit of the anterior limb, the
thumb or pollex, being sometimes, and that of the hind limb,
the great toe or hallux, being almost always freely opposable to
the other digits, and very largely developed. There are never
more than two incisors on each side of each jaw, and canines
are almost invariably present.

The first Family is the HominidcBj containing only Man him- [Case l.J
self (Cases 1 and 2, Div. A and B). His skeleton differs from
the typical Mammalian type described above mainly in relation
to the upright position of the body, and the total withdrawal of
the anterior limbs from the function of progression, and their
modification into grasping and tactile organs ; at the same time
the hind limbs are developed sufficiently to be capable, by them-
selves, of supporting and moving the whole weight of the body.

The direction of the hind limbs is in a straight line with the axis
of the vertebral column, instead of at right angles to it, as in other
Mammals; the pollex is so attached to the carpal bones as to be
completely opposable to the other four digits, while the hallux,
or great toe, is fixed parallel to the other toes, so that the foot
is quite flat beneath, with but little power of grasping, but forming
an admirable base on which the body may be balanced. The tail
is only represented by the coccyx, an immovable bone composed of
from three to five coalesced vertebrse.

The skull differs from that of the other Mammals in the great
size of the brain-case, and the proportional reduction of the bones
of the face, the natural result of the high development of the

F 2

G8

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

Skull of Caucasian. Skull of Torres-Strait Islauder.

have a very small brain-cavity, thick skull-bones, receding forehead,
overhanging brows, flat nasal bones, long and low orbits, very
broad and low nasal-opening, forward projecting jaws, and large
teeth : strongly contrasting in each of these respects with the
skull of a European.

The skeletons exhibited are those of a European man and woman,
and that of a full-grown Akka woman, one of the race of pygmies
inhabiting Central Africa. This skeleton was presented by Emin
Pasha, and measures slightly less than four feet in height.

Above the skeletons in Case 1 arc some European and North-
African skulls, among which may be specially noted those of two
ancient Greeks, from a tomb at Cyrene. In Division B are exhi-
bited some of the many skulls of Egyptian ^luinmies presented by
Mr. Flinders Petrie and part of the magnificent collection of skulls
of Nepalese natives of various tribes made by Mr. B. II. Hodgson,
and ])resented by him to the IMuseum. Then follow (Div. C)
Chinese, Malaccan, Sumatran, and other Malay skulls, and those of

brain and the disuse of the jaws and teeth as weapons of offence
and defence. It therefore follows that those races of mankind
which have prominent jaws and small brain-cases are of a lower
type than those in which the jaws are more reduced in size and
the brain-case is larger. Thus the Australians and Tasmanians

2A. Fig. 20.

SKULL OF MAN.

69

the Esquimaux and American Indians, among which are some re-
markable instances of artiticially distorted skulls, formed by fasten-
ing boards and bands round the head during infancy. Fig. 30

Fig. 30.

Skull of Vancouver Islander, artiticially deformed in infancy.

represents one that has been lengthened in this way, that of a
Vancouver Islander ; while there are others in the case that have
been much shortened and broadened, notably two from Sacrificios
Island, Gulf of Mexico.

In Case 2, Div. A, are the skulls of the Maori and other [C
Polynesians, and a selection from the fine series of Negro skulls
obtained by Mr. P. Du Chaillu on the West Coast of Africa.

Finally, in Div. B, are the skulls of the Melanesians, among
which should be noticed that of a native of Torres Straits, as
representing this type most perfectly ; and a prepared monumental
head, with a distorted skull, clay face, and real hair, obtained in the
island of New Britain.

Below these are some casts of the heads of South-Australian, and
above, on the back of the case, some of Papuan and Polynesian
natives.

The Simiid(By or Man-like Apes (Case 2, C-F) , are characterized
by their inclined spinal column, broad breast-bones, the great
length of their arms as compared with their legs, the enormous
ridges of bone above their eyes, especially in the male specimens.

70

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

the large size of their teeth, and, in common witli other Monkeys,
the opposability of their halluces or great toes, a character which
may be seen very clearly in the mounted skeleton. The family
contains the Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Orang-Outang, and the Gibbons,
of all of which skeletons and series of skulls are exhibited. The
fine series of Chimpanzees^ skeletons in the upper part of Divs. C
and D, and the Orang-Outang skulls collected by the late Rajah
Brooke and others in Borneo, are especially worthy of notice.

[Case 3.] ^^he Cercopithecidce, containing the rest of the Old-World Mon-
keys, are of very various sizes and proportions, some having no
tails at all, while others have enormously long ones, which are,
however, never prehensile. They are distinguished from the
Simiidce by the quadrupedal position of the body, and the conse-
quent modification of their skeleton, especially the shortening of
their fore limbs, which are always exceeded in length by the hind,
by their lower central incisors being larger than the outer ones,
the converse holding in Man and the Anthropoids, by their more
numerous back vertebrje, and by many other less definite charac-
ters which remove them further from Man towards the ordinary
lower Mammals. Skeletons and skulls are exhibited, in Case 3,
Divs. A-D, of specimens belonging to the genera Semnupithecus,
Cercopithecus, Colubus, Macacus, Cynocephalus, the distinguishing
characters of which have already been referred to (p. 9).

All the Catarrhini, as the Old-M^orld Monkeys and Man are
called, have an osteological character in common (besides the
external points noted on p. 9), viz. the presence of a long bony
tube or meatus, leading from the outer to the inner ear, which is
entirely absent in the New-AVorld or Platyrrhine Monkeys. Their
dental formula is invariably I. C. j-. Pm. M. x 2 = 32.

The American or Platyrrhine Monkeys consist of two families,
the first of which, the Cebidce, has for its dental formula, 1. C. ],
Pm. g, M. I X 2 = 36, thus differing from the Catarrhini by having
an additional premolar on each side of each jaw. Their external
characters have already been referred to (p. 9)*. One of the
genera of this family, Mycetes, the Howling Monkeys, is remark-
able for possessing a bony enlargement of the hyoid or tongue-
bone, in which the extraordinary howling or roaring sounds emitted
by these Monkeys are produced ; this structure may be seen in situ
in the skeletons of Mycetes laniyer exhibited.

CARNIVORA.

71

The Hapalid(Bf or Marmosets, have the same total number of ’
teeth as Man and the Old-World Monkeys, but they are not dis-
tributed in the same way, their formula being I. |, C. Pm.

M. I X 2=32. Skeletons and skulls of both the New-World
families are exhibited in Case 3, Div. E.

The Lemurs (Suborder Lemuroidea) are placed in Div. F.
They are, as already noted, far lower animals than the true
Monkeys, from which they differ, osteologically, by their longer
snouts, smaller brain-cases, different dentition, and by the fact
that the orbit, with one exception, is bounded on the outside only
by a simple rod of bone instead of by a distinct bony wall.
Skeletons of all the principal genera are exhibited, and attention
may be drawn particularly to that of Tarsius spectrum ; remarkable
for the extraordinary prolongation of the hind foot. Its orbits
are bounded all round by a thin plate of bone ; and its dentition
is I. C. Pm. f, M. f X 2 = 34. And, finally, in the Aye-aye
[Chiromys madagascariensis) the teeth are extremely reduced in
number, the formula being I. C. g. Pm. J, M. § x 2 = 18. The
incisors are very thick, long, and curved, and are without roots, as in
the Rodents, with which this animal was formerly associated. The
crowns of its molars are flat and smooth.

Order II. CARNIVORA.

(Cases 4 to 7.)

The Carnivora, or Beasts of Prey, form a large and very natural
division of Mammals, distinguished by their highly specialized
double sets of teeth, the second or permanent set being almost
invariably made up of three incisors on each side, above and below,
of which the outer is the largest, one long, sharp, and powerful
canine or eye-tooth, and a variable number of molars and premolars;
by their clawed toes, of which there are never less than four on
each foot, non-opposable first digits, and their incomplete or absent
clavicles.

They are divided, as already noted, into two great groups, of
which the Carnivora Fissipedia, or Land Carnivores, are the first to
claim our attention. Their skeletons are such as to represent
perfectly the normal Mammalian type described on p. 61. Their
limbs are adapted for walking, running, and climbing, but not

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

72

for swimming, as are those of the second group. The zygoma is
broad and powerful, in correlation with the; great development of
the biting-muscles, and the lower jaw is articulated to the cranium
by a closely fitting transverse hinge, which gives great strength and
firmness to the joint, but entirely deprives the animal of the power
of moving this jaw backwards and forwards, or from side to side, its
only motion being in a vertical direction. The varied and highly-
developed dentition diff’ers from that of other Mammals by the
development of the last premolar of the upper jaw and the first
molar in the lower into the so-called “ sectorial teeth, which are
specially adapted for cutting up animal food. The shape of these
teeth is highly characteristic of the different genera.

[Case 4.] The Cats, or Felidce (Case 4, Divs. A to D), the most highly
developed of the Carnivores, have unusually long and powerful
canine teeth, admirably suited for seizing and killing their prey,
and sharp-edged scissor-like sectorial teeth, equally well adapted
for cutting up flesh or breaking and crushing bones, which form
an essential part of their food. The actual number of teeth,
however, is much reduced, the dental formula being I.|, C. |,

Fig. 31.

Fones of toe of Cat. A, with retracted, and E, Avitli extended claw.

a, tendon of extensor muscle; h, retractor ligament; me, metacarpal;
ph (1, 2, and 3), 1st, 2nd, and 3rd phalanges; s, bony sheath, into
which the claw \s fixed.

Pm. 3^ ]\I. -[ X 2=30; and the whole jaw is shorter in comparison
with the length of the head, and therefore proportionally stronger.

CATS.

73

In the limbs the most noticeable characteristic is the peculiar
shape and articulation of the toe-bones, which has direct reference
to the power Cats possess of retracting the claws. Fig. 31 A shows
the bones of a toe with the claw in its ordinary retracted state j
when the animal wishes to strike, the tendon (a) is drawn back,
and the whole terminal phalanx (3) with the claw attached is
drawn downwards and forwards, as in B. At other times the
claw is drawn back and kept from contact with the ground by an
elastic ligament (d) . The sheath (s) into which the claw is fixed
is present in all Carnivora, but in none is it so much developed as
in the present family.

Skeletons are exhibited of the Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Tiger,
Lynx, Wild Cat, and other species, besides a series of the skulls
of Lions, Tigers, and others of the larger Cats. A skeleton and
several skulls of the Cheetah, or Hunting-Leopard, the most
aberrant of the family, is exhibited in Div. A.

The Hysenas (Case 4, Divs. E & F) are strikingly characterized

Fig. 32.

Skull of Hyaena.

by the enormous power of their teeth and jaws, and by the great
height of the cranial crests for the attachment of the biting-muscles.
The dental formula is I. f, C. Pm. M. X 2 = 34.

74

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

[Case 5.]

The Aal•(l-^^ olf [Proteles ciistatus), although in many respects
allied to tiie Ilvtcnas, yet differs in a most remarkable manner in

Fig. 33.

its dentition and strength of jaus, the molar teeth being almost
rudimentary and the cranial crests entirely absent.

The Civer-Cats and Mongooses together form the next family,
the Viverrid(B (Case 4, upper parts of Divs. E & F). They are in
all respects less highly specialized for carnivorous habits than the
Feliclce, tlieir teeth being more numerous* and far weaker than
those of Cats. The most remarkable members of the family are
the Foussa [Crijptoprocta ferox) of Madagascar; and Eupleres
(joudoti, from the same island, which has teeth very much reduced
in size, so as to resemble those found in the Order Insectivora.
Tliere are also skeletons of the Spanish race of the well-known
Egyptian Alungoose (Herpestes ichneumon), of the African Civet
(Viverra civetta), of the Philippine Palm-Civet [Paradoxurus
pkilijypinensis), and others.

The Canidce, or Dog tribe (Case 5, Divs. A to D), are all very
much alike in their osteological and dental characters ; their skulls
are more elongated than those of the Cats, and their teeth (fig. 27)
more numerous and less highly specialized. Not having the power
of retracting their claws, their tae-bones have none of the peculi-
arities of those of the Cats, but otherwise the bones of the skeleton
arc generally similar.

The teeth are usually 42 in number, viz. I. C. Pm. i\I.

Ill one species, Icticyoii venaticus, there are 38 only ; while in
another, the Long-eared Fox of South Africa [Otocyon megalotis) ,

DOGS. — BEARS.

75

the number is increased to 46 or 48, beiug the largest number
present in any placental heterodont mammal. Of the specimens
CKhibited, the most noticeable are the skeletons of the African
Hunting-dog (Lycaon venaticus), Red Wolf (Cams jubatus) of
Buenos Ayres, Dingo, Coyote, &c.; and also the collection of
skulls and skeletons of the various races of the common Dog
(Canis familiar is) in Div. B.

The MustelidiB, or Weasel family (Case 5, Divs. E & E), have
thoroughly carnivorous habits, and therefore strong and well-deve-
loped teeth. Skulls of the Otter and Badger are mounted so as to
show the teeth from below. The latter animal has its lower jaw so
articulated to the cranium that it cannot be separated from it with-
out breaking the bone. All the Mustelidce have broad flattened
skulls, low vermiform bodies, short legs, and feet fitted either for
running, digging, or swimming. In the Sea-Otter (^Latax, better
known as Enhydra lutris) the hind feet are modified into flippers, in
which the fifth toe is the longest and stoutest, thus approaching the

Fig. 34.

Fin-footed Carnivores or Seals. Its teeth are enormously broad and
powerful, with rounded tubercular cusps well adapted for breaking
the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks, on which it is supposed
to feed. Alone among the Carnivora Fissipedia, the Sea-Otter has
only two lower incisors.

The Frocyonidos and Mluridm^ aberrant fruit-eating members of
the great Order of Carnivores, are placed in Div. F.

The Bears (Ursidce) occupy Case 6. In their skeletons, as in [Case 6.]
their external appearance, they are heavy and clumsily built, and
their bones are thick and massive. Their sectorial teeth have
broad surfaces, and are but little adapted for cutting, their whole

76

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY,

carpus; or/, caudal vertebrae ; cv, cervical vertebrae ; d, dor.sal vertebrae ; /7>, libiila ; /w, femur ; //, liumerus;
/, lumbar vertebrae ; m, metatarsu«; metacarpus patella ; ;;/j, phalanges; ;u’, pelvis; ?•, radius ;
s, sacral vertebrae ; sc, scapula ; st, sternum ; t, tarsus; th, tibia ; u, ulna.

SEALS.

77

dentition being that of animals living as much on vegetable as on
animal food. They are wholly plantigrade, and their claws are non-
retractile. They are a remarkably homogeneous group, there being
but few differences between them other than their relative sizes and
the proportions of their teeth.

Skeletons are mounted of Brown [Ursus arctos) and Polar
Bears [U. maritimus), besides a large series of skulls of different
species.

The second great division of the Carnivores, the Carnivora
Pinnipedia, or Seals, is strikingly modified in general form, yet
shows clearly its relationship to the Land Carnivores, and especially
to the Bears. The skeleton of a typical Seal (fig. 35) is elongate,
with a small skull, no clavicles, rudimentary tail, and limbs of
which the upper bones are very short, while the hands and feet
are long, with five well-developed toes. The hind legs are turned
backwards, so that the two soles are opposed to each other when
the animal swims, the two together forming a single posterior
swimming-paddle. Their action is similar to that of a person
propelling a boat with a single oar worked from the stern.

The skull (see fig. 36) has no postorbital processes, and the
posterior teeth are not differentiated in the same way as those of

Fig. 3G.

the Land Carnivores, there being no specialized sectorial tooth,
nor any flat tubercular teeth at the back of the mouth, all the
teeth being long and sharp, with the points directed towards the
throat, and forming admirable instruments for catching and hold-

78

osteological gallery.

ing such slippery prey as the fishes on which Seals feed; but the
teeth are useless for biting the prey into small pieces, each fish
being invariably swallowed whole. Some of the Seals have their
teeth provided with additional sharp-pointed cusps along their
edges, as in the Sea-Leopard (Stenorhijnehus Icptonyx) (fig. 3G).

This description applies fully only to the true Seals or Phocidoe,
the Otariidee, or Eared Seals, resembling ordinary Carnivores far
more, especially in the position of their hind limbs, as already
explained on p. 21.

The Walrus is in many ways intermediate between these two
families, but its dentition is very remarkable, the canine teeth
being enormously developed, while all the other teeth are small and
rudimentary and with flattened crowns. A skeleton of this animal
is exhibited in the recess between Cases 7 and 8, and several skulls
and tusks are in Case 7, Division D.

Order III. INSECTIVORA.

[Case 8.] The Tnsectivora (Case 8 a) are a group of animals not easily
defined by common osteological characters, and containing many
forms in which parts of the skeleton are remarkably modified.
Tlieir teeth are strong and well developed, and, in the majority,
clearly separable into the usual divisions ; but in some, such as the

Fig. 37.

Dentition of (A) Tanrec {Centetes veartdatus) and (D) Hedgehog
( Erinaceus e uropmiii) .

c, canines ; i, incisors ; m, molars ; pm, premolars.

INSECTIVORA.

79

Shrews and Moles, the incisors, canines, and premolars are by no
means readily distinguished. Throughout the Order the premolars
and molars are covered with minute, pointed cusps, suitable for
crushing the insects on which, as may be gathered from their
name, nearly all the Insectivora feed. The zygomatic arches are
generally either weak or entirely absent. The dentition offers
many important differences : thus the Desmans [Myogale) have
enormous incisors and small canines, while the opposite is the case
in the Moles [Talpa) and the Tanrecs [Centetidm) . And, further,
the whole Order is divided into two groups, distinguished by the
shape of the molars, which are either triangular and tricuspid, as
in the Tanrecs and Golden Moles, or square and multicnspid, as in
the Hedgehogs, Moles, and Shrews (see fig. 37, A & B) .

Skeletons of all the chief types are exhibited ; the most note-
worthy are those of the Moles {Talpa) (fig. 38), in which the

Fig. 38.

Fore part of Skeleton of Common Mole. A, Side view. B, Front view
of shoulder-girdle.

c, carpus ; cl, clavicle ; f, falciform hone ; h, humerus j 7nc, metacarpus ;
ph, phalanges \ r, radius ; sc, scapula j st, sternum ; u, ulna.

80

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

humerus (h) is enormously large, strong, and ridged, to afford inser-
tion for the powerful digging-muscles ; the scapula {sc) is long and
straight, and the fore foot, in addition to its proper complement of
five toes with strong nails, possesses a much enlarged os falciforme
(/), adding to the breadth and strength of the palmar surface. The
])elvis or hip-bone is much compressed, in order that the hind legs,
which are comparatively weak and small, should not project too
much laterally.

Order IV. CHIROPTERA.

[Case 8.] The Chiroptera, or Bats, are characterized by the possession of
the power of flight; for this purpose the whole fore limbs are
enormously elongated and strengthened, the finger-bones being
especially long (fig. 39). The forearm is formed almost entirely by

Skeleton of a Fruit-Bat {nero}ms juhatus).

cl, clavicle ; cv, cervical vertehrre : d, dorsal vertebrae ; ^fb, fibula ; fm, femur ;
h, humerus; Ilv, hallux; I, lumbar vertebrae; me, metacarpals ; mf,
metatarsals ; p//, phalanges ; pv, pelvis ; p.r, pollex ; r, radius ; s, sacral
vertebrm ; sc, scapula; sk, skull; b, tibia; is, tarsus; u, ulna.

BATS.

81

the radius [r), the ulna (u) being rudimentary. The thumb (px) is
short, free from the flying-membranes, and provided with a claw
{ph) ; while the other fingers are long, slender, and clawless, with
the exception of the index, corresponding to our fore finger, which
in some genera also possesses a claw. Clavicles {cl) are well
developed in all the species.

The hind limbs, on the other hand, are thin and feeble, and dif-
ferent from those of all other mammals in that they are rotated
backwards, so that the knee, like the elbow, is directed backwards.
Those species which are provided with a flying-membrane between
the hind legs have it supported by a long cartilaginous process or
spur, which is attached to the heel.

Bats are primarily divided into two groups, Frugivorous and
Insectivorous. The members of the first are distinguished by their
generally large size, large, smooth, and comparatively blunt teeth,
well-developed postorbital processes, and by the presence of three
phalanges to their index fingers. To this group belong the large
Fruit-Bats or Flying Foxes {Pteropus), represented by the skeleton
of Pteropus juhatus, and other genera, all of which live entirely
on fruit, and are restricted to the Old World.

The Bats of the insectivorous division are of small size, and have

Skulls of (A) Noctule ( Vesperugo noctula) and (B) Blood-sucking Bat
{Desmodus rufus).

teeth covered with minute sharp-pointed cusps, as in the Insecti-
vora ; they have no postorbital processes, and only one, or rarely
two, phalanges in their index fingers.

Fig. 40.

A

B

G

82

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

To this great group, containing five families and the great ma-
jority of the species, belong all our British species, the largest of
which, the Noctule [Vesperngo noctula)^ may be taken as a typical
insectivorous Bat. The most extreme modification of this type is
represented by the Blood-sucking Bat [Desmodus rvfus), whose
molars are almost aborted as being practically useless, while its
incisors are reduced in number to two, which are extremely large
and gouge-shaped, and peculiarly fitted to cause a free flow of
blood from their bite (see fig. 40).

Order V. DERMOPTERA.

[Case 8. Ill PtiG so-called Flying Lemur [Galeopithecus) , of which a
l)iv. A.] siieleton is mounted, the radius and ulna are partly joined to-

Fig. 41.

Lower Incisors of Galeopithecus.

gether, in order to render the forearm more rigid ; the hip-bones
are united below by a long symphgsis pubis’, and in the skull the
muzzle is broad and flattened, the orbit nearly surrounded by bone,
and there is a well-developed zygomatic arch.

The dentition of these peculiar animals is altogether unique,
especially the lower incisor teeth (tig. 41), which are of a very
remarkable pattern, being so deeply notched as to appear like
minute combs.

RODENTIA.

83

Order VI. RODENTIA.

The Rodentia, or Gnawing Animals (Case 8, Divs. B-F), are
characterized by their want of canine teeth and by the peculiar
structure and great development of their incisors. The majority
of Rodents have only a single pair of incisors above and below :
these teeth are large, curved, and adapted to gnawing purposes by
possessing sharp, chisel-like edges, formed by the hard outer coat of

Fig. 42,

Skeleton of a Squirrel.

c, carpus ; cd, caudal vertehrse ; cl, clavicle ; cv, cervical vertebrae ; d, dorsal
vertebrae ; fh, fibula ; fm, femur ; h, humerus ; I, lumbar vertebrae ;
me, metacarpus ; mt, metatarsus ; ph, phalanges ; pelvis ; r, radius ;
s, sacral vertebrae ; sc, scapula 5 sk, skull ; tb, tibia ; ts, tarsus 5 u, ulna.

enamel, which is restricted to their front surfaces, and wears away
more slowly than the softer dentine or tooth-core. These teeth,
besides, continue during the whole life of the animal to grow
from their roots as fast as they wear down at their tips. Should,
however, one of them get destroyed or diseased, the corresponding
tooth in the opposite jaw, wRich ought to have been worn down by
it, continues to grow until it may even bring about the death of
the animal by preventing the mouth from closing, and thus causing

G 2

84

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

starvation, or by curving right over and entering the hack of tlie
head. An example of the results of such an accident is shown in
the skeleton of Gould^s Ilapalotis {Hapalofis youldii) exhibited in
Case 8, Div. B. The clavicles are very varied in their develop-
ment, being, as is usual throughout the iMammalia, complete from
end to end in those forms, sueh as the Squirrels, in whieh the
anterior limbs are used for grasping or climbing; while they are
incom})lete or absent in those which live a simple terrestrial life,
and use their anterior limbs for 'walking or digging only.

The mandible is articulated to the skull by a longitudinal hinge,
which gives a large amount of mobility and freedom to the jaw, at
a corresponding sacrifice of strength and rigidity.

As already mentioned (p. 31), Rodents are divided into two
Suborders, according to the number of their upper incisors, those
with only a single pair being the SimjjHcide?itata (see fig. 44),
while those that have a second smaller pair behind the large front
ones are called Duplicidentata (fig. 45).

[Case 8.J Of the Simplicidentata, the Squirrel section (Div. B, above) are
distinguished by always having at least one premolar, by having a
flattened, not twisted, lower jaw, small palatine foramina, and by
their two shin-bones, the tibia and fibula, always remaining separate
from each other during life. They generally have well-marked
postorbital processes. To this group belong the Scaly-tailed Flying
Squirrels [Anomaliirus) , the true Squirrels [Sciiirus), the Beavers
[Castor), &c. The Beaver’s incisors are, perhaps, the finest exam-
ples of gnawing-teeth, being the instruments with which that
animal is able to cut down good-sized forest-trees, to build them
u}) into dams for their dwelling-places.

The Myomorpho, or Rat tribe (Div. B below), have a variable
number of premolars (0-3), a flattened lower jaw, no postorbital
processes, very long palatine foramina, perfect clavicles, and their
tibia and fibula are always joined to each other about halfway down
(see fig. 43) . Of the large number of genera and species belonging
to this tribe, there arc exhibited skeletons of Dormice [Myoxus),
common Rats and j\lice [Mus], Voles [Microtus), Mole-Rats
[Spalux], Pouched Rats (Gco?/??/s), Jerboas [Dipus), and numerous
others.

The Hystricomorpha, or Porcupine tribe (Divs. C-E), have

PORCUPINES.

85

almost invariably one premolar above and below^ a peculiarly twisted
lower jaw, variable palatine foramina, generally no postorbital pro-

Fig. 43.

/. fibula ; t, tibia.

cesses, and separate shin-bones. The animals forming this section
are very variable both in size and osteological characters. The
most noteworthy are the true Porcupines [Hystrix), which have

Fig. 44.

Skull of Common Porcupine {Hystrix cristata). The outer part of the
bone of the lower jaw has been removed, to show the whole length of
the lower incisor tooth.

i, incisor teeth ; m, molars ; pm, premolars.

the facial part of the skull curiously dilated (see fig. 44) ; the
Capybara [Hydrochoerus capyhara)^ the largest of the Rodents;

8G

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERV.

[Case 8.] tlie I’aca [Cadogenys yacd)^ whose zygomatic arches are much en-
larged and swollen, and protect a pouch opening into the mouth.

The second Suborder {Dujjlkidentata) (Div. F) consists of the
Hares and Rabbits [Lepus) and the Pikas (Lagomys). Their chief
peculiarity is that some bones of their skulls are singularly im-
perfect, consisting in parts merely of a sort of bony network,

Fig. 4o,

Skull of Common Hare (Lepus eiiropreus).
i, incisors ; m, molars ; premolars.

especially in the neighbourhood of the olfactory chamber. They
])Ossess postorbital processes, very large palatal foramina, and
united shin-bones.

Order VII. UNGULATA.

Suborder Pkoboscidea.

Numerous teeth and skulls of both species of Elephant, and of
[Case 0.] different ages, are jilaced in Case 9; several other skulls and six
skeletons (of an African male, Sumatran female, a gigantic Indian
tuskless male, two tuskers, and one lemale) are exhibited in the
adjoining Saloon.

The Ele})hants (Case 9) are characterized by the strength and
solidity of all their bones, and by their incisor teeth being deve-
lo])cd into long and formidable tusks.

Their skull (fig. 46) presents many special features : it is pro-
])orlioiiatcly very large and high, and the occipital surface looks
obliquely upwards, instead of backwards as in other Mammals.

ELEPHANTS.

87

The nasal aperture is on the top of the skull, and directed nearly
vertically upwards ; but in the living animal it forms the base of
the elongated trunk, at the extremity of which are the real external
nostrils. The great size of the skull, which is necessary for the
support of the heavy tusks and trunk, is produced by an unusual
development of air-cells in the cranial bones, so that the outer
surface of the skull of an old elephant is often nearly a foot

Fig. 46.

Skull of African Elephant (^Elephas africanus).

distant from the inner wall of the brain-case, the latter increasing
but little in size as the animal gets older. These air-cells may be
seen in the longitudinal section of an Indian Elephant^s skull in
Division B ; or, through the bullet-holes, in the skull of the old

rogue Elephant mounted in the Saloon.

Elephants possess no lower incisors, and the single upper pair
form the great ivory tusks ; there are no canines ; the molars are
remarkable in that their succession does not take place in a ver-
tical direction, as is usual among mammals, but from behind for-
wards. Never more than one, or portions of two, molars are in use
at any one time, and as that is pushed forwards and finally falls
out, the next one behind it takes its place. In this way six molars
are successively brought into use and shed during the animaFs
life. The inverted skull in the Saloon shows the manner of this
succession very well, the fifth tooth of the series being in place
both above and below, with the sixth and last one ready formed
behind to take its place.

88

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

The crowns of these grinding-teeth are made up of a variable
number of lamime or thin ])lates, each composed of an outer layer
of enamel and a core of dentine, the laminee being themselves
bound together side to side by a substance known as cement. In
the African Elephant each lamina, when seen in section, is lozenge-
shaped, so that the grinding-surface of the tooth when worn has the
appearance shown in fig. 47. In the Indian species, however, the
laminae have flattened parallel sides, and thus the tooth-surface pre-
sents numerous transverse parallel bands of enamel, as in fig. 48.

Fi". 47. Fig. 48.

Molars of African and Indian Elephants.

Various modifications of these patterns have been found in the
teeth of extinct Elephants, and a large number of species have been
distinguished accordingly.

Suborder IIyracoidea.

[Case 10.] The Coneys (Case 10, Div. A) are of small size, which alone is
sutficient to distinguish them from their huge allies; but they
are also characterized by their peculiar dentition. The molars much
resemble those of the Rhinoceros, whilst the incisors are quite unique
in structure and shape, the upper ones being rootless like those of

CONEYS.

89

the Rodents, triangular in section, with one of the angles directed
forwards, so that, by a somewhat similar mode of wearing as
that described in Rodents, a sharp point is formed and preserved at
this angle. The lower incisors are short, flattened, and rooted.
The dental formula is: — I. J, C. §, Pm. |, M. |x 2 = 34.

No extinct forms at all closely related to the Hyracoidea have
been discovered.

Suborder Perissodactyla.

The Perissodactyla, or Odd-toed Ungulates, composed at the
present time, as already noted, of the Rhinoceros, Tapirs, and
Horses, are characterized by the central line of the foot passing

Fig. 49. Fig. 50.

m

Bones of fore foot of Horse and Ebinoceros.
c, carpus ; me, metacarpus.

down the middle of the third toe, which is always the largest, the
other toes being ranged in a receding series on each side of it
(see fig. 50). Generally only one or three toes are present ; but the
Tapirs possess a fourth outer toe on their fore feet, the third toe,
however, still forming by itself the central and main axis of the
foot. The Perissodactyla are further marked by having their

90

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

[Case 10.]

[Case 11.]

[Cases

11 c'C 12.]

premolar and molar teeth in one unbroken series, the posterior
})remolars much resembling the true molars in shape and size.
The dorsal and lumbar vertebrse together number at least twenty-
two ; and, as in all other Ungulates, clavicles are entirely absent.

The three existing families of this Suborder, the Rhinocerotida,
Tapiridce, and Equidce, are sharply separated by the structure of
their molar teeth and by the numbers of their toes ; these families
are, however, very closely connected by numerous intermediate
fossil forms, the majority of which have been found in North
America. Such are the Lophiodontidce, the oldest Perissodactyles,
from the Lower and Middle Eocene, allied to the Tapirs; and the
Hijracodontidce, Macraucheniidce, Chalicotheriid(B^'dM\\. Palceotheriida,
all more or less allied to Rhinoceros, but showing, the further we
go back in time, a closer relationship one to another. These various
fossil forms are described in the Guide to the Geological Galleries,
pp. 21-23.

The Rhinoceroses, of which a remarkably fine series of skeletons
is placed in the centre of the Gallery, with skulls in Case 10, are
characterized by the thickness and solidity of their bones, by the
structure of their molar teeth, and by the enlargement of their
nasal bones to serve as supports for the external horns. Incisor
teeth are entirely wanting in the adults of the African species ;
but in the Indian there is a pair of large ones above, and
two large and two small ones below. Of the specimens exhibited
the most noteworthy are the skeleton of the Indian Rhinoceros
{R. unicornis), and the two fine skulls of the White Rhinoceros
[R. simus), by far the largest of the group, ])laced in the front of
Case 10.

The Ta])irs (Case 11, Divs. A-D) present almost the same
osteological characters as their ancestors, which are found fossil
in deposits of Upper Miocene age; they belong therefore to one of
the oldest existing types of Mammals. Their molar teeth have two
simple transverse crests on their crowns, very different from the
highly com})lex enamel foldings of the teeth of Rhinoceroses and
Horses. Their nasal bones are small; their toes four in number
on the fore, and three on the hind feet.

The Horses {Equidce) (Case 11, Divs. E and E, and Case 12)
of the present day consist of animals in which the gradual loss of
the outer digits in the feet has proceeded further than in any other

HORSES.

91

mammals, there being only a single toe on eaeh foot (fig. 49) ; but
in their ancestors, as shown in the Geological Guide, p. 23, the
toes are present in greater numbers as we go back in time. Their
molar teeth are large, quadrangular, and highly complex, the
enamel-foldings being extremely numerous when compared with
the simpler ones of the Rhinoceros and Tapir. In their skulls
and teeth all the recent Horses and Asses show scarcely any dif-
ference, the species being merely separated by size, form of tail,
colour, and other external characters.

Suborder Artiodactyla.

The Artiodactyla, or Even-toed Ungulates, are so called because
their feet always possess an even number of toes, two or four, the
centre line of the foot passing down between the toes which
correspond to the third and fourth of the complete or typical five-
toed mammaks foot ; these two toes are always equal, and larger
than the second and fifth, if these are present ; the first, corre-
sponding to our thumb, is (as in existing Ungulates generally)
always absent. The metacarpal and metatarsal bones of the third
and fourth digits are generally united, and form what is known as
the cannon bone.^^ The premolars and molars are quite distinct
in shape, the former being single- and the latter two-lobed. The
dorsal and lumbar vertebrse together invariably number nineteen.

The Artiodactyles may be, as already noticed, p. 38, divided
into two groups. Non-ruminants and Ruminants — groups charac-
terized also by their dentition, the teeth of the former being
covered with blunt, rounded cusps, and those of the second having
two pairs of crescentic ridges on their surfaces.

The non-ruminating Artiodactyles are Hippopotami and Pigs. [Qase 13 ]
The former (Case 13) possess broad skulls, huge lower jaws, and
great canine teeth, which, if the corresponding tooth in the opposite
jaw is lost, will continue to grow, forming great outwardly curved
tusks, such as the one placed in Div. B. The molars are large,
square, and complex. The dental formula of the common Hippo-
potamus, of which a skeleton stands in the centre of the Gallery, is
I. §, C. Pm. M. § X 2 = 40 ; the skull of a fine skeleton of the
diminutive Liberian Hippopotamus exhibited in this case shows
only one lower incisor on the left side, but two on the right.

92

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

[Case 14.] The Pigs, which occuj)y Case 14, have long narrow skulls,
tuherculated molars, large curved canines, and four-toed feet, the
bones ot all the toes being separate, and not united to form a
cannon bone. The dental formula of the Common Pig is I.

C. Pm. M. I X 2 = 44, giving the same number and distri-
bution of teeth as in the majority of Mammals of the earlier
Tertiary periods, but which is now found only in the genus Stis
and two genera of Insectivora.

Skeletons are exhibited of a ’Wild Boar {Siis scrofa), Wart-hog
{Phacochosrus) , and Peccary [Dicotyles) ; and skulls, among others,
of the Pygmy Hog [Sus salvanius), Babirusa (B. alfurus), and
River-Hogs [Potamochcerus). There is also (Div. F) an interesting
series of upper jaws of Wart-Hogs, showing the variation they
present in the presence or absence of the small upper incisor teeth.

The Ruminant Artiodactyles have molar teeth with crescentic
ridges. Their division into the Tylopoda, Tragulina, and Pecora
has been already noted, p. 40.

The Tylopoda, or Camel tribe, differ from the other Ruminants
in the presence of a pair of small incisor teeth in the upper jaw, in
the absolute suppression of the outer toes, and in their having no
horns in either sex.

The Camels are represented in Case 15 by a skeleton of the
Dromedary or one-humped species [Camelus dromedarius) and by
skulls both of that species and of the true or two-humped Camel
(C. bactrianiis) . Of the Llamas, there is a skeleton of the Llama
(Lama ylama), which shows the close affinity of these animals to
the Camels, the skeleton and skull being merely smaller forms of
the same type.

[Case 15.] The Trayulina (Div. E), containing the Common and Water
Chevrotains, are distinguished by the long canine teeth of the
males, by the shape of the odontoid process of the second
vertebra, which is conical, by the presence of four complete digits
to all the feet, all the bones of the leg being likewise fully de-
veloped, and by the spongy structure of the auditory bullae.

The Pecora are characterized osteologically by the development
of horns in the majority of the sj)ecies, at least in the male sex,
by the total absence of upper incisors, by their crescent-shaped
odontoid processes, rudimentary or absent outer digits, incomplete
fibulae, and simple inflated auditory bullae.

OXEN.

93

The families contained in this large and important group

are : —

1. The Bovidce (Cases 15 to 20), with simple, hollow, non-deci-
duous horns, supported by a long conical process of the frontal
bone of the skull. Their teeth are as a rule longer than those of
the Cervidce, the ^^neck^^ of the molars being hidden beneath the
bone ; canine teeth are invariably absent.

The Oxen are represented, in the centre of the Gallery, by
skeletons of a Piedmontese Bull from Tuscany; of a Buffalo
from Assam [Bos buhalus) ; of the South- and Central-African
Buffaloes [Bos caffer and centralis), of the Gour and Gayal
[Bos gaurus and frontalis), and of the European and American
Bisons [Bos honasus and americanus) , placed side by side for the
sake of comparison. Besides these a skeleton of the Banteng
[Bos sondaicus) and one of the Anoa [Anoa depressicornis), and
numerous skulls and horns, are exhibited in Case 16.

Of the Musk-Ox [Ovibos moschatus), male and female skeletons
are placed in Case 16, and several separate skulls and horns both
here and on the top of Case 11.

Of the beautiful group of the Antelopes, the horns are exhibited
along the tops of Cases 11 to 18, while of the skeletons the follow-
ing deserve mention : —

the Sable Antelope [Hippo tragus niger) ; the Sing- Sing Ante-
lope [Kobus defassus) ; the Leucoryx ( Oryx leucoryx) ; the Saiga
[Saiga tartarica) ; the Chamois [Bupicapra tragas)^ both male and
female.

the Kudu [Strepsiceros kudu), wdiich has proportionately the
largest cervical vertebrae of all Mammals.

the Eland [Oreas canna). (Recess between Cases 20 and 21.)

Of the Sheep and Goats the mounted horns are placed on Cases
19 to 24, while within the Cases there are skulls and skeletons of
several of the different forms, such as the Wild Goat [Capra
cegagrus), the Common Sheep [Ovis aries), Marco Polo’s Sheep
[Ovis poll), the Barbary Sheep [Ammotragus tragelaplius) , Rocky-
Mountain Goat [Haplocerus montanus), &c.

2. The family Antilocapridue is represented, in Case 19, Div. F,
by a skeleton and several skulls of its only member — the Prong-
horn [Antilocapra americana), showing that, although the horn is
itself bifurcate, yet its core remains a simple upright process of bone.

[Cases
16 to 19.]

9i

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

[Cases

20-22.]

3. The Giraffid(jey like the last family, contains only a single
species, the Common Giraffe {Giraffa camelupardalis), of which a
skeleton is placed in the Saloon near the Elephants^ skeletons, and

[Case 20.] three skulls in Case 20, Eiv. A. The curious bony protuberance,
almost forming a third horn, in the middle line of the face, already
mentioned p. 47, is very conspicuous on the largest of these.

4. The Cervidce have branched deciduous antlers entirely com-
posed of bone; their molar teeth are short, with the neck above
the bone of the jaw ; the majority possess canine teeth, which in
some species are very long. It is interesting to notice that the
development of these teeth is in inverse proportion to that of the
horns, the large antlered species having minute or deciduous
canines, while the few hornless Deer are compensated by most
efficient dental weapons.

Skeletons are exhibited in the centre of the Gallery of the Wapiti
(^Cervus canadensis) and of the Elk (Alces machlis), and, for
comparison with these largest of living Deer, there is ])laced in
close proximity the skeleton of a gigantic extinct Deer [Megaceros
hibernicus) which once lived in many parts of Europe, and the
remains of which are found in the greatest abundance and in the
most perfect state of preservation in the peat-bogs of Ireland.

In the wall-cases there are skeletons of —
the Ileindeer [Rangifer tarandus). (Case 20, Div. C.)

the Fallow Deer {Dama vulgaris). (Case 20, Div. D.)

David^s Deer [Ehiphurus davidianus) .

the ]\tule and Virginian Deer [Cariacus macrotis and virginia-
nus). (Case 22.)

the Pudu {Pudii humilis). (Case 23, Div. A.)
the Chinese Water-Deer [Hijdropotes iuermis).
the Tufted Deer [Elaphodiis michianus) (Case 22, Div. B), the
two last being instances of hornless Deer with long up])er canines.

The antlers of the Cervidce arc mounted on the tops of the Cases
in the Mammalian Gallery.

Order YIII. SIRENIA, or Sea-Cows.

This remarkable Order differs strikingly in structure from all
the others, although formerly these animals were ])laced with the
AVhales, on account of their aquatic habits and want ot hind limbs.
The Sea-Cows have rounded heads, very small eyes, no ears, a

SEA-COWS.

95

pair of anterior flippers, which they have the power of moving
in all directions, no posterior limbs, but broad flattened tails,
placed, like those of the Whales, horizontally and not vertically as
in fish ; skin thick and nearly hairless ; only the lips are covered
with stifi* bristles.

Their bones generally are extremely dense, massive, and heavy,
especially the ribs ; of the posterior pair of limbs only two rudi-
mentary pelvic bones remain, but no trace of true limb-bones.
The anterior caudal vertebrae have well-marked chevron-bones,
and in one genus [Manatus) there are only six cervical vertebrae,
thus forming one of the very few exceptions to the general Mam-
malian number of seven. The fore limbs are developed into flat
flippers, not showing externally any trace of fingers.

The skull is of a very peculiar shape and structure, the anterior
part of both jaws being bent downwards nearly vertically. The
molars are either absent, or very simple square teeth with transverse
ridges, suitable for chewing water-weeds and other vegetable sub-
stances. The nasal opening, as in the Elephants, is placed very
far back on the upper surface.

The Sirenia consist of three genera, one of which is generally
believed to have been recently exterminated : —

(1) Manatus, the Manatees, with eleven molars on each side,
of which about six are present at any one time ; snout but little
bent downwards ; tail depressed and rounded, its posterior edge
forming a semicircle ; rudimentary nails on the flippers. The
Manatees, so called from their using their flippers to a slight
extent as hands {manus), are natives of the rivers and shores of
Eastern America and Western Africa within the tropics, never
straying far out to sea, but yet quite unable to go on to the land
itself, their whole lives being passed in the water. There are
said to be three species of Manatee, namely: — the African Manatee
(M. senegalensis) ; and two American, the Florida and South-
American species [M. latirostris and americanus) ,

Stuffed specimens and skeletons of Manatus senegalensis and
americanus are placed in the Saloon, and several skulls in
Case 23, Div. B.

(2) Halicore, the Dugongs, with two tusk-like incisors, and
five or six molars on each side; snout bent nearly vertically
downwards ; no nails on the flippers ; tail broad, with the poste-

[Case 23.]

9G

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

rior edge nearly straight, somewhat as in tlie Whales. The
Dugongs inhabit the coasts of the Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea
to Australia, living in shallow waters, and feeding, like the Mana-
tees, on sea- and river-weeds, but being on the whole more marine
in their habits, and taking more readily to deep water.

Tliree species have been distinguished, namely — HaVicore taher-
naciili, the Red-Sea Dugong; H. duyong, the Indian; and H.
australis, the Australian species. A stuffed specimen of the Red-
Sea and a skeleton of the Indian species are placed in the Saloon,
and a series of skulls of the other forms in Case 23.

(3) IViytina, entirely without teeth, their place being taken by
rough horny plates ; snout moderately bent downwards ; flippers
short ; tail with two lateral flukes, as in the Cetacea.

The only species of this genus is Steller^s Sea-Cow [R. gigas),
which formerly in numbers inhabited the shores of the islands iu
the neighbourhood of Behring Straits and Alaska. Its capture
was so easy that the process of its extermination was accomplished
within a short period after its discovery, towards the end of the
last century. HappilVj before its final extermination, a German
naturalist in the Russian service, Steller, published an excellent
account of its anatomy and habits; so that it is nearly as well
known as its living allies. ]\lany of its remains were discovered
during the voyage of the ^ A^ega ^ in the region where it lived. A
nearly perfect skull, obtained from Behring Island, is placed iu
Case 23, D.

Steller^s Sea-Cow was more than twice as large as either the
Dugongs or Manatees, attaining a length of about 25 feet; but its
habits were precisely similar.

Fossil Siren ians are known as far back as the Middle Eocene,
the Eotherium cegijptiacum having been found in Egy[)tian deposits
of that age. In later times the members of this Order, such as
Halithernim,Felsinotherhim, and others, were abundant in European
seas, and their remains occur fossil in considerable numbers in
Germany, France, and Italy : a single Miocene species has been
recorded from Suffolk.

Order IX. CETACEA.

[See Cetacean Gallery, p. 104.)

SLOTHS.

97

Order X. EDENTATA.

The Edentata as a whole are characterized by the incomplete [Case 23.]
state of their dentition. In many forms teeth are entirely absent,
while when present they are always composed of dentine and
cement only (without enamel), and never form roots. In only one
genus {Tatusia) is there a functional milk -dentition, one only
(Dasypus) possesses premaxillary teeth, and in none is there any
definite division of those in the maxilla into canines, premolars, and
molars.

The first family, the Bradypodidoi, or Sloths, have short round
heads, five teeth above and four below. The vertebrae, owing to
the inactive habits of Sloths, are almost entirely devoid of neural
spines, and the whole vertebral column, especially in the neck
region, is remarkably flexible and loosely united. The cervical
vertebrae, which in all other Mammals, except the Manatee, are 7
in number, amount to no less than 9 in the Three-toed Sloths
[Bradypus) , while in certain of the Two-toed Sloths [Choloepus)
there are only 6. In Cholcepus the clavicle is attached to the cora-
coid, a peculiarity not occurring in any other Mammal. The pelvis
is remarkable for being united to an unusually long portion of the
spinal column, both the ilium and ischium being attached by bone
to the latter. In old animals most of the carpal and tarsal bones
ankylose together. In addition to the difference in the number
of their claws, the two genera Bradypus and Cholcepus are also
readily distinguished by the different shape and proportions of their
teeth, — those of the former being small, of equal size, and the upper
ones placed opposite the lower, so that they wear down nearly flat ;
while in Cholcepus the first tooth in each jaw forms a sort of canine,
twice as long as any of the others, and as the teeth are placed
alternately in the two jaws, they are worn down into wedge-shaped
crowns.

Skeletons and skulls of both Bradypus and Cholcepus are placed
in Case 23, Div. E.

Intermediate to a certain extent between the Sloths and Ant-
eaters are certain huge fossil animals, found in the post-Tertiary
deposits of South America, of which the best known is the Great
Ground-Sloth [Megatherium americanum), of the complete skeleton
of which a cast is exhibited in the Geological Gallery.

H

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

D8

[Case2o.] The Myrmecophayidoi, or Aiiteateis, diti'er from the Sloths by
their drawn-out snouts, entire want of teeth, elongate })alate-bones,
and long slender lower jaws. The most remarkable species is the
Great Anteater (Myrmecophaya juhata), an animal with a long
narrow head, about a foot in length, the greater part of which is
made up by the maxillary bones. There are no zygomatic arches
to the skull, but little biting-power being needed. The clavicles
are exceedingly rudimentary.

In the third family of Edentates, or Armadilloes {Dasypodidce) ,
teeth are present, generally 2 = 28 to 38 in number, but in

• the Giant Armadillo amounting to 2 = 80 to 100. These

teeth are small and simple, with single roots. In the genus
Tatusia a set of functional double-rooted milk-teeth precedes the
simple one-rooted permanent ones, and traces of a milk-dentition
have also been found in Dasypus, Zygomatic arch complete.
Second and third, and often several of the other cervical vertebrae
ankylosed together. The clavicles are well developed, and the
whole anterior limb is enormously strengthened to support the
huge digging-claws. The pelvis (as in the Sloths and Anteaters)
is ankylosed to the vertebral column both by the ilia and ischia,
and in one genus [Chlamydophorus) the dermal bony shield is
united to the pelvis by vertical pillars.

The fossil forms referable to the Dasypodida, mostly found in
the Pleistocene deposits of South America, are both numerous and
interesting, many of them showing relations with still existing
genera, while others, notably the huge Glyptodons (see Geol.
Guide, p. 70), of which five genera are known, present characters so
peculiar as to necessitate their being placed in a separate family.

Of the Old-World Edentates, the Pangolins, or Manidce, are
characterized by their entire want of teeth, elongated skulls, which
are without zygomata, slender jaws, and by their long powerful
tails, of which the vertebrae, numbering from 28 to 46, are provided
with large chevron bones. The sternum is produced backwards
nearly to the pubis, and the retractor muscles of the tongue are
attached to its posterior part. There are no clavicles.

A few traces of fossil Pangolins have been found in the lower
Pliocene of India and the island of Samos.

MARSUPIALIA.

99

The family of Orycteropodidce contains one genus only, the
Aard-varks, which have teeth, of a highly peculiar and com-
plex structure, each tooth consisting of a very large number of
separate parallel dental systems, all closely packed together. In a
transverse section they present an appearance not unlike that of a
piece of cane. These teeth are preceded by a set of minute milk-
teeth, mere remnants of a former functional set, which show indi-
cations of a division into diflferent groups, such as premolars
and molars. The zygoma is complete, and there are well-deve-
loped clavicles.

The Common Aard-vark [Orycteropus afer), an animal of about
the size of a pig, is represented by a skeleton in Case 23, Div. E.

Order XL MARSUPLiLIA, or Pouched Animals.

The principal characteristic by which the skeletons of Marsu-
pials differ from those of all the previous Orders is the presence of
a pair of long slender bones, attached to the anterior edge of the
pelvis. These are known as the marsupial bones,’^ owing to their
close neighbourhood to the external marsupial pouch *. In their
skulls the Marsupials differ from other Mammals by having the
angle of the lower jaw much bent inwards, and forming a well-
marked internal process. Teeth are always present, and separable
into different classes, but, with the exception of the last premolar,
not preceded by milk-teeth. The incisors are generally unequal
in number in the two jaws, and range from | to Dorso-lumbar
vertebrae invariably 19.

The Marsupials are divided primarily into two great groups :
in the first, as in the Rodents and Ungulates, the incisors are few
in number, but large and powerful, and the canines, at least in
the lower jaw, are either entirely absent or small and rudimentary ;
while the second possess, like the placental Carnivora, small and
numerous incisors and large and sharp canines. The former are
called Diprotodont and the latter Polyprotodont

To the former group belong the Kangaroos, Phalangers, and

* They are absent in one genus only, Thylacinm.

t “With two front teeth.” 1 “With many front teeth. ^

H 2

100

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

[Case 24, J

Wombats, which, with but few exceptions, live chiefly upon vegetable
food ; to the latter, carnivorous both in structure and habits, the
Opossums, Dasyures, and Bandicoots.

The Kangaroos (Case 24, Div. B) belong to the first group ;
their dental formula, when fully developed, being I. C. Pm. r!,
M. ^x2 = 34; some of the anterior grinding-teeth, however, are
generally lost before the posterior are in position. The modifications
of the bones of the hind feet accompanying their extraordinary
“ syndactylous structure has been already referred to (p. 54).

Skeletons ai*e exhibited of a male and female Red Kangaroo
{Macropus rufus), of a Tree-Kangaroo {Dendrolagus), and a Rat-
Kangaroo [Potorous).

Numerous fossil remains of animals allied to Kangaroos, some
as large as a Rhinoceros, have been found in the fluviatile deposits
of Australia, among which may be specially mentioned the huge
Viprotodon australis, whose head is figured in the Geological
Guide, p. 31.

The Phalangers [PhalangeridcP) differ from the Kangaroos by
the possession of a large opposable hallux, and by the comparative
shortness of their hind feet. Their teeth are remarkably variable
in form and number, the ten genera of the family being founded
almost entirely on these variations. The dental formula ranges
from I. f, C. 1, Pm. f , M. f x 2 = 28, to I. f, C. |, Pm. M. |,
X 2 = 40. In the aberrant Tarsipes rostratus the molar teeth are
so reduced and variable that no definite number can be assigned to
it. The feet are syndactylous, as in the Kangaroos, but the dis-
proportion between the bones of the united second and third toes
on the one hand, and the fourth on the other, is not so great as in
those animals.

The Phalangers vary in size from animals as small as a mouse,
as for example Acrohates pygmams, toothers larger than a cat, such
as the Koala {Phascolarctus cinereus). Skeletons are exhibited of
the latter animal, of a Cuscus [Phalanger maculatus), and of a
Flying Phalanger {Petaurus sciureus).

The Pliascolomyidce, or Wombats, arc the only Marsupials with
rootless teeth and an equal number of incisors in each jaw, their
dentition being I. C. j], Pm. M. | x 2 = 24. The incisors
are large and cutting, with the enamel confined to their anterior

MARSUPIALIA.

101

surfaces, as in the Hodentia, of whieh this family is generally
considered to be the Marsupial analogue. The molars are strongly
curved, and eomposed eaeh of two parallel lobes. The general
form is stout and squat, and the tail rudimentary, consisting of
only from 8 to 12 vertebrae, while the Phalangers have from 25 to
31. The feet show a slight tendency towards a syndactylous
structure. All the three known species are represented in Case 24,
Div. A, by skeletons and skulls.

The Bandicoots [Peramelidce) present us with the first instance
of a polyprotodont earnivorous dentition, that is with many
ineisors in the lower jaw, and with the lower and upper canines
well developed, and suited for seizing and holding small mammals,
birds, worms, beetles, &c. Their dental formula is I. C. -}-,
Pm. f, M. f x2 = 48. On the other hand, their feet show a
close resemblanee to those of the diprotodont Kangaroos, so that
these animals are in some measure intermediate between the two
great groups of Marsupials.

The Dasyuridce are the most highly developed carnivorous Mar-
supials, representing in this Order the true Carnivora of the
placental series. The best known is the Thylacine or Tasmanian
Wolf {Thylacinus cynocephalus) , whose skull strikingly resembles
that of one of the Dog tribe. Its dentition is I. I, C. 1 Pm. I,
M.^X 2 = 46, the teeth being sharp and cutting, and well suited
to its predatory habits. Its feet are of the normal mammalian
structure, and the marsupial bones represented by unossified
cartilages only.

The Dasyures {Dasyurus) are smaller earnivorous forms, whieh
correspond in their habits to the weasels, martens, and other small
placental Carnivores, while the still smaller Phascologales and
Sminthopsis, which range from the size of a rat to that of a mouse,
and live on inseets, worms, &e., represent the placental Insectivora.
Their teeth are numerous, small, and eovered with sharp pointed
cusps. Myrmecobius fasciatus is remarkable for having the largest
number of teeth known in any heterodont mammal, its dentition
being I. f, C. }, Pm. M. ^ x 2 = 54. The teeth are small
and sharply cuspidate. Its external features and its habits have
already been referred to (p. 57).

The DidelphyidcB, or Opossums, natives of Ameriea, resemble

102

OSTEOLOGICAL GALLERY.

in their dentition the Dasijvrida;, and in the structure of their
feet the Phalangers, the hallux being opposable to the other toes,
and so forming a posterior pair of hands. Their dental formula
is I. C. Pm. ]\1. X 2 = 50.

The species of Opossums are very numerous ; but in no family
of equal extent are there so few differences in the osteological
characters — the skulls, teeth, and proportions of the limbs being in
all nearly identical.

The fossil remains of Didelphyidce are of special interest, being
found in the Eocene deposits of England and France. These
fossils consist, however, chiefly of lower jaws, so that it is by no
means easy to tell their exact relations to their modern represen-
tatives.

The last family of the Marsupials is the Notoryctidee, comprising
one single animal only, the Marsupial Mole [Notoryctes typhlops),
whose external characteristics have already been referred to (p. 58).
The skeleton of this little animal, exhibited in Case 24, Div. C, is
remarkable for its generally mole-like structure, powerful fore limb,
with its stout and highly ridged humerus, for its ankylosed cervical
vertebrjc, the first and the seventh being alone free, and for the
peculiar roofing in of the sacrum by the expansion of the processes
of the sacral vertebrae. The teeth vary slightly in number, but the
ordinarv formula appears to be: — 1. C. Pm. §, M. | x 2 = 40.

Order XIL MONOTREMATA.

:.j The Monotremes (Case 24, Div. C) present many very impor-
tant skeletal characters, among which may be specially noticed the
peculiar structure of the shoulder-girdle, in which the clavicle is
large, and connected with the sternum by an inter-clavicle ; the
coracoid, instead of being quite rudimentary as in other mammals,
is large, and articulates with the sternum ; the whole structure
being of a very low and reptilian tyj)e. The skull is long and
depressed, with a large rounded brain-case, the walls of which are
thin, as in birds. There are no true teeth in adult life, but in
Ornithorhynchus the young are provided with three peculiar flattened
saucer-like teeth in each jaw, which are afterwards shed and replaced

MONOTREMES.

103

by horny projections or “ cornules/^ There are 19 dorso-lumbar
vertebrse^ well-marked sternal ribs^ and a pair of large marsupial
bones placed on the pelvis.

The two genera of the Order differ in many important respects,
especially in the shape of the skull. Ornithorhynchus has a
broad, fiat rostrum, forked in front, which supports the beak, and
in which first the teeth and then the cornules are implanted ;
while in Echidna the snout is long, narrow, and toothless, and
forms merely a long tube for the lodgment of the tongue, as in
the true Anteaters (Myrmecophaga). In the recently discovered
Froechidna bruijnii from New Guinea, of which a fine skeleton is
mounted, the snout is nearly twice as long as the brain-case,' and
very much curved downwards, while in the common Echidna it is
much shorter and curved upwards.

In both Ornithorhynchus and Echidna the anterior limbs are
more powerfully developed than the posterior, the humerus espe-
cially being exceedingly thick, and provided with large ridges for
the attachment of muscles, reminding us of a similar development
in moles and other digging mammals.

104

CETACEAN GALLERY.

Until the erection of the west wing of the Museum the specimeus
of Whale-like animals, for which, on account of their large size, no
place can be found in the portion of the Museum galleries already
completed, are lodged in a room, temporarily arranged for their
reception in the basement, and approached by a staircase leading
from the Bird Gallery. The room has unfortunately the disad-
vantages of not being well lighted, and of being intersected by
massive columns which interfere with the complete view of any of
the larger skeletons; nevertheless, the specimens will be safely
preserved in it until such time as better accommodation shall be
found for them, and visitors can, with very little difficulty, study
most of the important peculiarities of these gigantic and very
interesting members of the Animal Kingdom.

As it is almost impracticable to preserve the skins of the larger
species of Whales, owing to the quantity of oil with which they are
saturated, the exhibition of the characters of these animals is chiefly
limited to their skeletons, assisted by drawings of their external
form. The general ap])earance of many of the smaller kinds is,
however, shown by stuffed specimens and coloured casts.

The Order Cetacea is one of the best marked and most natural
of all the larger groups into which the Class Mammalia is divided.
In all essential characters, by which Mammals are distinguished
from the other vertebrated animals, such as possessing warm blood,
breathing air by means of lungs, bringing forth their young alive,
and nourishing them for a time with milk, they agree with the
other members of their class; the striking external differences being
all in relation to their adaptation to an entirely aquatic mode of
life.

CETACEANS.

105

Their external form is fish-like, the body being fusiform or
spindle-shaped, passing anteriorly into the head, usually without
any distinct constriction or neck, and posteriorly tapering off
gradually towards the extremity of the tail, which is provided with
a pair of lateral, pointed expansions of skin supported by dense
fibrous tissue, called “fiukes,^^ forming together a horizontally-
placed triangular propelling organ, notched in the middle line
behind, with which the animals scull themselves through the water.
The characteristic form of the tail is well seen in many of the smaller
stuffed specimens in the Gallery, and in that preserved and attached
to the great skeleton of the Rorqual, to be spoken of presently.

The head is generally large, in some species attaining to even
more than one third of the entire length of the animal, and the
aperture of the mouth is always wide, and bounded by stiff
immobile lips. The fore limbs are reduced to the condition of
fiattened paddles, encased in a continuous skin, showing no ex-
ternal sign of division into arm, forearm, and hand, or of separate
fingers, and without any trace of nails. There are no signs of hind
limbs visible externally. The general surface of the skin is smooth
and glistening, and devoid of hair, although in most species the
mammalian character of hairiness is just indicated by the pre-
sence of a few fine bristles in the neighbourhood of the mouth,
which either remain through life, or are to be found only in the
young state. Immediately beneath the skin, and intimately con-
nected with it, is a thick layer of fat, held together by a dense
mesh of fibrous tissue, constituting the blubber/^ which serves
the purpose of the hairy covering of other mammals in retaining
the heat of the body. In nearly all species there is a fin, more
or less triangular in shape, composed only of skin and fibrous
tissue, near the middle of the back, which, as in the analogous
dorsal fin of fishes, assists to keep the animal in an upright posi-
tion when swimming through the water. The eye is small ; and
the aperture of the organ of hearing extremely minute, and with-
out vestige of a pinna or external ear. The nostrils, generally
called blowholes,^^ open separately, or by a single valvular
aperture, not (except in the Sperm Whale) at the extremity of
the snout, but near the top of the head.

The bones generally are spongy in texture, their cavities being

106

CETACEAN GALLERY.

filled with oil. In the vertebral column the region of the neck
is remarkably short and inca])able of motion, and the vertebrae,
originally seven in number, as in other mammals, are in many
species more or less fused together into a solid mass. None of
the hinder vertebrae of the body are united together to form a
“ sacrum or to join the pelvis, as in mammals in which the hind
limbs are fully developed. The lumbar and caudal vertebrae are
numerous and large, and capable of very free motion in all direc-
tions. Beneath the latter are large chevron bones which pro-
ject downwards, and give increased surface for the attachment of the
powerful muscles that move the tail. There are no bones sup-
porting the lateral “ flukes ” of the tail or the dorsal fin.

The skull is modified in a peeuliar manner. The brain-case is
short, high, and broad, almost spherical in fact. The nostrils open
upwards, immediately in front of the brain-case, and before them
is a more or less horizontally prolonged beak or rostrum, ex-
tending forwards to form the upper jaw or roof of the mouth. In
detail the form of the skull varies much in different groups.

There are no collar-bones or clavicles. The upper arm-bone or
humerus is freely movable on the scapula or blade-bone at the
shoulder-joint ; but beyond this the articulations of the limb are
imperfect, flattened ends of the bones coming in contact with each
other, with fibrous tissue interposed, allowing of scarcely any
motion. The two bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) are
distinct and very much flattened, as are all the bones of the hand.
There are usually five fingers, though sometimes the first, or that
which corresponds to the thumb of man, is wanting. The pelvis
or hip-bone is represented by a pair of elongated slender bones,
suspended below, and at some distance, from the vertebral eolumn,
in the region of the loins. As these bones are in the living animal
concealed in the flesh and not connected with the spinal column,
they are olten lost in preparing the skeletons, and hence are
absent in many of the sj)ecimeus in the Gallery. To the outer
side of these, in some AVhales, small bones are attached which
represent the bones of the limb proper. In the great skeleton of
the Rorqual (Balcenopiei'a mysciihis), at the further end of the
Gallery, a little nodule of bone, scarcely larger than a walnut, has
been fortunately preserved. It is the rudiment of the thigh-bone

CETACEANS.

107

or femur, and the only trace of a hind limb which this gigantic
animal possesses. The existence of these apparently useless rudi-
mentary structures has a deep bearing upon the origin and past
history of Whales, and their relationship to the other Mammalia.

The animals of the Order Cetacea abound in all known seas,
and some species are inhabitants of the larger rivers of South
America and Asia. Their organization necessitates their passing
their life entirely in the water, as on land they are absolutely help-
less. They have, however, to rise very frequently to the surface
for the purpose of respiration ; and, in relation to the constant
upward and downward movement in the water thus necessitated,
their principal instrument of motion, the tail, is expanded horizon-
tally, quite unlike that of a Fish, whose movements are mainly in
straightforward or lateral directions. The position of the respi-
ratory orifice or nostril on the highest part of the head is very
important for this mode of life, as it is the only part of the body
the exposure of which above the surface is absolutely necessary.
Of the numerous erroneous ideas connected with natural history,
few are so widespread and still so firmly believed as that the
Cetacea spout out through their blowholes water taken in at the
mouth. The fact is, the spouting,^^ or more properly blowing,”
of the M^hale is nothing more than the ordinary act of breathing,
performed at longer intervals than is the case with land animals.
The moment the Whale rises to the surface it forcibly expels from
its lungs the air taken in at the last inspiration, which of course
is heated and highly charged with watery vapour, in consequence
of the natural respiratory changes. This, rapidly condensing in
the cold atmosphere in which the phenomenon is generally ob-
served, forms a column of steam or spray, which has been erro-
neously taken for water. It also often happens, especially when
the surface of the ocean is agitated into waves, that the animal
commences its expiratory puff before the orifice has quite cleared
the top of the water, some of which may thus be driven upwards
with the blast, tending to complete the illusion. In hunting
Whales the harpoon often pierces the lungs or air-passages of
the unfortunate victim, and then fountains of blood may be forced
high in the air through the blowholes, as commonly depicted in
scenes of Arctic adventure ; but this is nothing more (allowance

108

CETACEAN GALLERY.

being made for the Whalers peculiar mode of breathing) than what
always follows severe wounds of the respiratory organs of other
mammals.

All the Cetacea prey upon living animal food of some kind.
One genus alone {Orca) eats other warm-blooded animals, as
Seals^ and even members of its own Order, large and small.
Many feed on fish, others on small floating crustaceans, pterapods,
and medusae, while the principal staple of the food of many is
constituted by the various species of cephalopods, especially Loligo
or Squid, and its allies, which must abound in some seas in vast
numbers, as they form almost the entire support of some of the
largest members of the Order.

In size the Cetacea vary much, some of the smaller Dolphins
scarcely exceeding four feet in length, while others are the most
colossal of all animals. It is true that most statements of their
bulk found in general and even zoological literature are greatly
exaggerated ; but even when reduced to their actual dimensions
(which will be mentioned hereafter with the different species) some
of the existing Whales exceed in size that of any animal living
either at present or in former times of which we have any certain
evidence.

With some exceptions the Cetacea are timid, inoffensive animals,
active in their movements, and very affectionate in their disposition
towards one another, especially the mother towards the young, of
which there is usually but one, and at most two, at a time. They
are generally gregarious, swimming in herds or “ schools ” (so
termed by the whalers), sometimes amounting to many hundreds
in number, though some species have hitherto only been met with
either singly or in pairs.

The great commercial value of the oil, which all the Cetacea
yield, and the special products useful to man of certain species, as
whalebone, spermaceti, &c., cause them to be subject to an unre-
mitting persecution, which has. of late greatly diminished their
numbers, and threatens some of the most interesting species with
total extermination.

The existing members of the Order are separated into very
distinct Suborders, having important differences in their structural
characters, and with no transitional or intermediate forms. These

SPER3I-WHALE.

109

are the Toothed Whales or Odontoceti, and the Baleen Whales
or Mystacoceti.

Suborder I. Odontoceti, or Delphinoidea.

Among other important anatomical characters, these have no
baleen or whalebone, but always possess teeth, which are generally
numerous^ but sometimes few and quite rudimentary in size and
function. The upper portion of the skull is more or less asym-
metrical. The olfactory organ is absent. The two branches of the
mandible or lower jaw come in contact in front by a flat surface of
variable length, but always constituting a true symphysis. Several
pairs of ribs are connected with the elongated sternum by means
of costal cartilages, which are often ossified. The external respira-
tory aperture or blowhole is single, the two nostrils uniting before
they reach the surface, and usually in the form of a transverse
crescentic valvular aperture, situated on the top of the head.

Family Physeterid^.

The members of this family are united by several common
characters of the skull and vertebral column, by never having
functional teeth in the upper jaw, and by their costal cartilages
never becoming ossified.

The most interesting member of this family is the great Sperm-
Whale or Cachalot {Physeter macrocephalus) , of which the skeleton
of one which was cast ashore on the rocky coast of Caithness, near
Thurso, in June 1863, is mounted in the central hall of the Museum.
It is 50 feet long (measured in a straight line), which is about the
average length of a full-grown specimen of this animal, and appears
never to be greatly exceeded, notwithstanding the exaggerated state-
ments of their attaining 80 or 100 feet in length. It feeds chiefly
on cephalopods and fish, and is one of the most extensively distri-
buted of Cetaceans, being met with, usually in herds or schools,'’-’ in
almost all tropical or subtropical seas, but not occurring, except
accidentally, in the Polar Regions. Those that appear occasionally
on the British coasts are solitary stragglers, usually, if not always,
old males, as in the present instance. The oil contained in the great
cavity above the skull, when refined, yields spermaceti,^-’ so much
used in the manufacture of candles and of ointments, and the thick

cetacean gallekv.

SPERM-WHALE.

Ill

covering of blubber which everywhere envelops the body produces
the valuable sperm-oil of commerce ; hence this animal has long
been the subject of a regular chase^ by which its numbers have been
greatly diminished. The substance called ambergris,” largely
used in perfumery, is a concretion formed in the intestines of the
Sperm-Whale, and is found floating on the surface of the seas
which they inhabit. Its genuineness is attested by the presence of
fragments of the horny beaks of the cephalopods on which the
Whales feed.

A large skull of a Sperm-Whale, which has been in the Museum
since the end of the last century, is placed in the anteroom through
which the Cetacean Gallery is entered, and the remarkable form
of the lower jaw, with its numerous stout conical teeth, is shown
in a specimen suspended to the ceiling near the entrance of the
Gallery.

Nearly allied to the Sperm-Whale, but of very much smaller
size, is Kogia hreviceps^ of which but few specimens have hitherto
been met with. The skeleton exhibited is from the neighbour-
hood of Sydney.

The Ziphioid Whales, or ZiphiiruB, a section of the Physeteridce,
constitute a very interesting group, of which most of the different
forms are represented in the collection by skeletons and skulls.
They resemble the Sperm-Whale and Kogia in having no teeth in
the upper jaw (or if present they are in an exceedingly rudimen-
tary state, and attached only to the gum of the mouth, not fixed
in the bone), but differ, inasmuch as in the lower jaw the teeth,
instead of being numerous, are reduced to one, or very rarely two,
pairs. These are situated either quite at the front extremity of the
jaw, as in Ziphius and Hyperoodon, or near the middle, as in Me-
soplodon. In one of the last-named genus {M. layardi)^ from the
South Seas, these teeth are much elongated and flattened, and in
old animals (as in the skull exhibited in the Table-Case) curve
round and meet over the upper jaw, so as almost to prevent the
mouth from opening. This remarkable disposition of the teeth has
been found in so many individuals that it must be looked upon as
normal, and not, as at first thought, an accidental peculiarity,
though it is difficult to understand how it is consistent with the
animal obtaining its food.

The best known animal of this group found in the British seas

112

CETACEAN GALLERY.

is Hyperoodon rostratus, of which are exhibited a complete skeleton
of an adult female, taken at Whitstable, Kent, in 1860, and the
skull of a very old male from the Orkneys, in wliich the bony
crests, rising on each side from the uj)per jaw, have attained such
an extraordinary development, that it was long supposed to be the
type of a distinct species, called H. latifrons. It has, however,
now been shown, that while in the young of both sexes the crests
are quite small, in the female they remain permanently of the size
shown in the skeleton, and in the male they gradually increase
as age advances. This animal is an inhabitant of the northern
parts of the Atlantic Ocean ; and as it yields both spermaceti and
oil, equal in value to that of the Sperm-Whale, it is now the object
of a regular “ fishery.^^

The southern representative of this species (H. planifrons) is as
yet only known from the water-worn and rolled skull from Western
Australia exhibited near the northern specimens, and the extent of
its range still remains to be discovered.

Family Platanistid^e.

On the left side of the door, near the first window, is a Case
containing a stuffed specimen, skeleton, and several skulls of the
very curious freshwater Dolphin of the rivers of India [Platanista
gangetica). It has never been found in the open sea, but is exten-
sively distributed throughout nearly the whole of the river-systems,
not only of the Ganges, but of the Ilrahmaputra and Indus,
ascending as high as there is water enough to swim in. The eyes
are exceedingly small and imperfect in structure, and it appears to
be quite blind. It feeds on small fish and Crustacea, which it
gropes for with its long snout in the muddy water at the bottom
of the rivers. The blowhole, as may be seen in the stuffed spe-
cimen, is a single slit, placed lengthwise, and not transverse to the
head as in most Dol])hins, and tlie dorsal fin is merely a low ridge.
The skull has a very remarkable form, having on the upper surface
a pair of large, compressed, bony crests, which overarch the aper-
ture of the nostrils and base of the rostrum, and nearly meet in
the middle line above. The upper and lower jaws arc exceedingly
long and narrow, and armed with numerous slender, pointed teeth,
which undergo some curious changes of form as life advances.

DOLPHINS.

113

In the next Case are the skeleton and some skulls of another
freshwater Dolphin, Inia geojfrensis, from the Upper Amazon and
its tributary streams, and also of a very remarkable species, Pon-
toporia blainvillii, from the estuary of the Rio de la Plata, of very
small size, with exceedingly long and slender jaws and the most
numerous teeth of any mammal, sometimes as many as 60 on each
side of each jaw, or 240 in all. Both of these have some rela-
tionship with the Platanista, although in many characters they
approach the next group, or true Dolphins.

Family Delphintd^.

A very numerous group, composed of the animals commonly
called Dolphins and Porpoises, although some of the larger mem-
bers are also dignified by the name of Whales. Skeletons of most
of the genera are exhibited, and also a large series of skulls (those
of the smaller species being in the Wall-Cases at the end of the room
nearest the door). There are also stuffed specimens of many
species, and papier-mache models of others, showing very well the
external form and colour of the animals when fresh.

The principal genera are : —

Delphinus. The true Dolphins, Bottle-noses, or, as they are more
commonly called by seafaring people, Porpoises,'’^ are found in
considerable abundance in all seas. They are all among the
smaller members of the Order, none exceeding 10 feet in length.
Their food is chiefly fish, for the capture of which their long,
pointed beaks, armed with numerous sharp-pointed teeth, are well
adapted; but some appear also to devour crustaceans and mollusks.
They are mostly gregarious, and the agility and grace of their
movements in the water are constant themes of admiration to the
spectators of the scene when a ‘‘ school of Porpoises is observed
playing round the bows of a vessel at sea. The old genus is
now much subdivided — Lagenorhynchus, Tursiops, Pi'odelphinusj
Sotalia, Stem, Cephalorhynchus, being names applied to its various
sections ; Delphinus being now generally restricted to the common
Dolphin of the Mediterranean, D. delphis, and its immediate allies.
This species is met with, though not frequently, on the English
coast, a stuffed specimen from Cornwall being shown in the

I

114

CETACEAN GALLERY.

Gallery. There are also casts of the heads of a pair of this and
of Tursiops tursio, from the Atlantic coast of North America.

Common Dolphin {Delphinus clelphis).

Skull of Common Dolphin.

Gram2ms has no teeth in the upper, and but few in the lower
jaw. G. (jriseuSj about 13 feet long, and of very variable colour,
is occasionally met with off our coasts : the skeleton is that of an
adult female, taken in mackerel-nets, near the Eddystone Light-
house, February 28th, 1870. There are also a stuffed specimen and
skeleton of a very young individual, taken a few days afterwards
near the same place, and coloured casts of the heads of an adult
and young from North xVmerica.

Glubicephalus has also few and. small teeth, but they are present
HI both jaws. It is characterized externally by the rounded form of
the head and the very long and narrow ])cctoral flippers. The best
known is G. melas, the Pilot-AVhale, Caring-Whale, or Giindhval
of the Faroe islanders, which attains a length of 20 feet, and is of
nearly uniform black colour, except the middle of the under sur-

PORPOISES.

115

lace, whicli is lighter. They are extremely gregarious, and mild and
inoffensive in disposition, feeding on cephalopods. Their eminently
sociable disposition constantly leads to their destruction, as, vrhen
attacked, they instinctively rush together and blindly follow the
leaders of the herd. In this way many hundreds at a time are
frequently driven ashore and killed, when a herd enters one of the
bays or fiords of the Faroe or Shetland Islands. They are widely
distributed. Specimens in the collection from New Zealand are
indistinguishable from those taken in the Northern seas.

Fig’. 54,

Porpoise {PhoccBiia communis).

Fig. 55.

Skull of Porpoise.

Phocana. P. communis, the common Porpoise, is the best known
and most frequent Cetacean on our coasts. It and its immediate
allies differ from all the other Del2:)hinicl(2 in the form of their
teeth, which, instead of being conical and pointed, have compressed
spade-shaped crowns. Its external form is well seen in the
coloured model of an American specimen, A closely-allied form,
Neomei'is phoccBnoides, differing mainly in the absence of dorsal
fin, is common off the coast of Bombay, and has been met with
in other parts of the Indian Ocean and near Japan. A specimen

1 2

IIG

CETACEAN GALLERY.

is exhibited which w as captured in the Chinese river Yang-tse-kian£r,
nearly a thousand miles from the sea.

Orca. Very different in structure and habits from the last is the
genus Orca, containing the Grampuses"’^ or Killers powerful
animals, with numerous formidable teeth, high-pointed dorsal fin,
and very broad rounded flippers. They are found in almost all
seas from Greenland to Tasmania, and are distinguished from all
their allies by their ferocity, being the only Cetaceans which
habitually prey on warm-blooded animals; for though fish form
part of their food, they also attack and devour Seals and various
species of their own order, not only the smaller Porpoises and
Dolphins, but they also combine in packs to hunt down and destroy
full-sized ^yhales, as wolves do the larger ruminants.

A life-sized model of a fine female specimen caught at the mouth
of the Humber, in November 1885, is exhibited near the entrance
to the gallery, and near the further end are the skeletons of this
same female and of a male from Bildoen Island, Norway.

Orcella. 0 . Jiuminalis is a small species found in the Irawaddy
river, from 300 to 900 miles from the sea, of which a perfect
skeleton is exhibited.

Delphinaptei'us. D. leucas, the Beluga, or 'White Whale, so called
from its almost pure white colour, is about 12 feet long, abundant
in the Arctic seas, and extends as far south on the American coast
as the river St. Lawrence, which it ascends for a considerable dis-
tance. On rare occasions it has been seen on the coast of Scot-
land. It has no dorsal fin.

Monodon monoceros. The Narwhal, or Sea-Unicorn, resembles
the Beluga closely in everything but its teeth, as will be seen by
comparing their skeletons. Its dentition is, however, perhaps the
most extraordinary of any mammal. It has only two teeth in the
adult, both of which lie horizontally in the upper jaw. In the
female both remain permanently concealed within the bone of
the jaw, so that this sex is practically toothless ; but in the male,
while the right tooth remains similarly concealed and abortive (as
shown in the skeleton by removal of part of the bone which covered
it), the left is immensely developed, attaining a length equal to
more than half that of the entire animal, projecting horizontally
from the head in the form of a cylindrical or slightly tapering

WHALEBONE WHALES.

117

pointed tusk, with the surface marked by spiral grooves and ridges.
In some very rare cases both teeth are fully developed, as in the
line skull exhibited near the skeleton. The Narwhal inhabits the
Arctic regions, where it is tolerably abundant and gregarious,
feeding on various species of cephalopods, small fish, and crusta-
ceans. The use to which it puts its tusk (often erroneously
spoken of as a ^^horn^^) is not known.

Besides the adult skeletons and tusks exhibited on the left side
of the gallery there is the skeleton of a foetal specimen in the wall-
case near the door. In this specimen the two tusks are of equal
dimensions, and two of the other small deciduous teeth are still
in place.

Suborder II. M y s t a c o c e t i, or Bal^noidea.

Although the so-called \¥halebone Whales have rudimentary
teeth developed at an early period of life, these soon disappear, and
their place is occupied in the upper jaw by the baleen or whale-
bone."’^ This consists of a series of flattened, horny plates, between
three and four hundred in number on each side of the mouth.
They are placed transversely to the long axis of the mouth, with
very small interspaces between them. Each plate or blade is some-
what triangular in form, with the base attached to the palate, and
the point hanging downwards. The outer edge of the blade is
hard and smooth, but the inner edge and apex fray out into long
bristly flbres, so that the roof of the Whale’s mouth looks as if
covered with hair, as described by Aristotle. The blades are
longest near the middle of the series, and gradually diminish
towards the front and back of the mouth. Baleen (as seen in
various specimens in the Table-Case near the further end of the
room) varies much in colour in dififerent species of Whales. In
some it is almost jet-black, in others slate-colour, horn-colour,
yellow, or even creamy white. In some the blades are variegated
with longitudinal stripes of different hues. It differs also greatly
in other respects, being short, thick, coarse, and stiff in some, and
greatly elongated and highly elastic in those species (as the Green-
land Whale, Balana mysticetus) in which it has attained its fullest
development. Its use is to strain the water from the small marine
mollusks, crustaceans, or fish upon wEich the Whales subsist. In

118

CETACEAN GALLERY.

feeding, they fill their immense mouth with water containing
shoals of these small creatures, and then, on their closing the jaws
and raising the tongue so as to diminish the cavity of the mouth,
the water streams out through the narrow intervals between the
hairy fringe of the whalebone-blades, and escapes through the lips,
leaving the living prey to be swallowed.

Among other characters by which the Whalebone Whales are
distinguished from the Toothed Whales, may be mentioned : — The
external openings of the nostrils are distinct from each other, and
consist of a pair of longitudinal valvular slits on the top of the
head ; the two sides of the upper part of the skull are symmetri-
cally developed; the organ of smell, though small, is formed as in
other mammals. The branches of the lower jaw are greatly curved
outwards in the middle, and are loosely connected both to the skull
behind and to each other in front by fibrous bands. When the
mouth is open in feeding, they fall outwards, widening the capa-
cious bag formed by the very dilatable skin of the throat (the
power of distention of which is aided in many species by a series
of longitudinal folds), which may be compared to the sac under the
bill of the pelican. By their rotation upwards and inwards when
the mouth is closed, they are brought close to the upper jaw. The
sternum or breast-bone is composed of a single piece, often taking
the form of a cross, and articulates only with a single pair of ribs.
There are never any ossified sternal ribs.

The Whalebone Whales represented in the collection belong to
five distinct types or genera.

Balcena (Right Whales). Skin of throat smooth, not furrowed.
No dorsal fin. Cervical vertebra) united into a single mass. Pec-
toral limb broad and short, with five fingers. Head very large.
Baleen very long and narrow, highly elastic and black, as seen in
the specimens near the window at the further end of the room.

This genus contains the well-known Greenland Right Whale
{Balccna mysticetiis) of the Arctic seas, wliich yields whalebone of
the greatest value and train-oil. It never leaves the ice, and so is
not an inhabitant of the seas round our islands, but is hunted every
summer in Baffin^s Bay and the seas round Spitzbergen by ships
fitted out at Dundee and Peterhead. The Museum at present only
possesses a skull of this most interesting animal; but a carefully

RIGHT WHALE.

Il9

]20

CETACEAN GALLERY.

executed coloured model, on the scale of one inch to the foot, pre-
sented by Captain David Gray, gives a good idea of its external
appearance.

Besides the Greenland AVhale there are several other members
of the genus, distinguished from it by having heads somewhat
smaller in proportion to the body, and with shorter baleen, and a
larger number of vertebrae. These inhabit the temperate seas of
both northern and southern hemispheres; and although divided
by zoologists into several species, in accordance with their geogra-
phical distribution — B. hiscaijensis, of the North Atlantic; B.
japonica, of the North Pacific; B. australis, of the South Atlantic ;
and B. antipodamm and novm-zelandice, of the South Pacific —
their distinctive characters, if any, have never been accurately
made out. The first named was the Whale formerly regularly
hunted by whalers from the Basque sea-ports of France and
Spain, and the main source of supply of w'halebone and oil until
the discovery of the Greenland Whale in the seventeenth century.
It therefore became extremely rare, but owing to the diversion of
the whaler^s attention to the larger and more profitable Arctic
species, it has of late years become again rather more numerous.
The skeleton of a male specimen obtained from the coast of Iceland
has lately been added to the collection. A mass of united cervical
vertebrae, dredged from the bottom of the sea near Lyme Kegis, in
1853, probably also belongs to this species. The skeleton from
New Zealand (labelled Balcena australis) , a not quite full-grown
animal, exhibited in the Gallery, shows how closely related the two
sj)ecies are. None of the Bight Whales exceed 50 feet in length.

JSeobalana. Two skeletons (adult and young) of a very remark-
able Whale of small size (less than 25 feet), from New Zealand and
Australia, of wdiich very little is as yet known, are placed on the left
side of the room, near the windows. Besides some great peculiarities
in the form of its bones, this species is distinguished by its very
long, slender, elastic baleen, whick is nearly white in colour, with a
dark external border.

Rhachiariectes. The Grey Whale of the North Pacific, of which
a skeleton is exhibited, combines the small head, elongated form,
and narrow pectoral fin of Balcenoptera with the smooth throat
and absence of the dorsal fin of Balcena. It is an exceedingly rare

122

CETACEAN GALLERY.

species. This skeleton is believed to be the only one in any of the
European ^luseums. The whalebone is very short and of a yellow
colour. The two anterior ribs are fused together, and the sternum
is unusually long and narrow.

Meyaptera. In this group the head is of moderate size, and the
baleen-plates short and broad. The cervical vertebrae are free.
The most conspicuous distinguishing character is the immense
length of the pectoral fin, about one fourth of that of the entire
animal. On account of the low rounded form of the dorsal fin,
they are commonly called “ Humpbacks ” by the whalers. The
skeleton exhibited, near the middle of the room, is that of a not
quite adult animal from Greenland. Behind it are a skull and some
bones of a full-sized specimen from the coast of California. There
is also at the further end of the room the skull of a young animal
from New Zealand. These specimens illustrate the wide geogra-
phical range of the members of the genus, and also the difficulty
of dividing them satisfactorily into species. As in the case of so
many other Cetacean genera, some zoologists maintain that the
animals inhabiting dififerent seas must belong to different species,
and they have been named accordingly ; but if this is the case,
the characters by which they are to be distinguished from each
other have not yet been clearly pointed out : hence in this collec-
tion they are all called Meyaptera hoops, the specific name under
which they first appear in zoological literature.

Bal(Bnoptera. Head comparatively small and flat, pointed in
front. Body long and slender. Skin of throat plicated. A small
triangular, rather falcate, dorsal fin. Baleen short and coarse.
Cervical vertebrse free. Pectoral flipper small, narrow and pointed,
with but four fingers. This genus contains the various species of
Rorquals, Fin-Whales, Fin-backs, Finners or Razor-backs, as they
are variously called, some of which are found in almost every sea.
Among them is the most gigantic of all animals, Balcenoptera
sibhaldii, which attains the length of 80 feet, and is common in the
seas betw^een Scotland and Norway. The skeleton suspended in
the Gallery, near the further end, on the left-hand or window side,
is that of a young animal, being only 52 feet in length. Almost
of equal colossal proportions is the Common Rorqual (Balcenoptera
musculus), found throughout the North Atlantic and Mediterranean,

FIN-WHALES.

123

and often stranded on some part of the English coast. The very
complete skeleton of a perfectly full-grown animal^ 68 feet long
measured in a straight line_, from the Moray Erith^ Scotland,
where it was captured in 1882, shows extremely well the osteo-
logical characters of this group of Whales, even to the small pelvic
bone and rudimentary nodule representing the femur or thigh-
bone. The baleen or whalebone is in place in the mouth, and
the flukes of the tail and the dorsal fln are also preserved, and
suspended near their original position. On the left side of the
room, near the windows, is the skeleton of a very young animal,
taken on the coast of North Wales in 1846, the difi’erent form of
the bones of which, owing to their incomplete development, caused
it formerly to be taken for a distinct species.

Balanoptera borealis is a well-marked species, intermediate in
size between the last and the following. The skeleton exhibited is
from an animal taken near Goole in Yorkshire, in September 1884.

A fourth species, not uncommon on the English coast, is the
small Balcenoptera rostrata, which never reaches 30 feet in length.
Beside a skeleton from Greenland is another from New Zealand
(B. huttonii), which resembles it so closely that it is diflScult to
assign any distinctive characters to it except the colour of the
whalebone, which, of a creamy white in the Northern, is almost
black in the Southern form. Much information is still required
before we can determine the limits of the geographical distribution
and variation of the various kinds of Whales, and more especially
do we need a larger number of specimens for study and comparison
before many important problems relating to their natural history
can be solved.

1 N D E X.

Aarrl-vark, 53, 09.
Aard-Wolf, 15, 74.
Acrobates, 100.
.^luroidea, 13.
jElurus, 20, 75.
Agouti, 33.
Alcelaphus, 46.
Alpaca, 41.
ambergris. 111.
Ammodorcas, 46.
Anoa, 93.

Anomaliirus, 31, 84.
Anteater, 50, 98.
Antechinus, 55, 101.
Antelopes, 45, 93.
Anthropoid Apes, 6,
69.

Anthropojnthecus, 7.
Antilocapra, 46, 93.
Arctoidea, 19.
Arctomys, 31.
Armadillo, 50, 98.
Arni, 42.

Artiodactyla, 38, 91.
Arvicola, 32.

Aides, 9.

Aurochs, 42.

Aye-aje, 12, 71.

liohirusa, 39, 92.
Baboon, 9.

Badger, 19.

Balcena, 118.
Bahvnoidea, 117.
Balcenoptera, 122.
Bamboo-Rat, 32, 84.
Bandicoot, 56, 101.
Banteng, 42.

Barbary Sheep, 44.
Bats, 27, 80.

Bear, 20, 76.

Beaver, 32, 84.

Beisa, 46.

Bighorn, 44.

Bison, 42, 93.

Black Buck, 46.
Blood -sucking Bat,
29, 82.

blowhole, 105.
blubber, 105.

Bovidaj, 41, 93.
Bradypus, 49, 97.

Buffalo, 42, 93.
Burrhel, 44.
Bush-bucks, 46.

Cachalot, 109.
Calliihrix, 10.
Callorhinus, 22.
Camel, 40, 92.

Canidffi, 17, 75.
canines, 64.

Cams, 17.

Capra, 45, 93.
Capreolus, 48.
Ca])uchin Monkeys,
10.

Capybara, 33, 85.
Cariacus, 48, 94.
Carnivora, 12, 71.
Carponycteris, 28.
carpus, 66,

Castor, 32, 84.
Catarrhini, 9, 70.
Catohlcpas, 46.

Cats, 13, 72.
caudal vertebra3, 65.
Cavy, 33.

Cebidte, 9, 70.

Cent ties, 27, SO.
Cc2)haloIophus, 46.
Ccrcoleptcs, 20.
ceryical yertebraj, 65.
Cercopithecidse, 8, 70.
Cervidce, 47, 94.
Cervulus, 48.

Cetacea, 104.
Clialicotheriidas, 90.
Chamois, 46, 93.
Cheetah, 14.
chevron bones, 106.
Cheyrotain, 41, 92.
Chimpanzee, 8, 70.
Chinchilla, 33.
Chirogale, 11.
Chironiys, 12, 71.
Chironectes, 58.
Chiroptera, 27, 81.
Chlamydophorus, 50,
98.

Cba'ropus, 56.
C//o/<x2)us, 97.

( 7i rysoch tor is, 27.
Chrysothrix, 10.

Civet-cats, 15, 75.
clavicle, (i6.

Ccetogenys, 86.

Cold/us. 9, 70.

Coney, 35, 88.

I Connochetes, 46.

I coracoid, W.

I Coypu, 33.
cranium, 61.

Crossopus, 26.
Cryptoprocta, 15, 74.
Cuscus, 55, 100.
Cynocephahis, 9,
Cynoidea. 16.
Cynomys, 31.

Bactylopsita, 55.
l)ama, 48, 94.
Damalis, 46.
Dasypodidiw .'>0, 98.
Basyprocta, 33.
Dasyurus, 57, 101.
Deer. 48, 94.

I Betjdtinajderus, 1 15.
j Delj)hiuid;v. 1 13.

! Delphinoidea, 109.

I Betphinus, 113.

I Dermoptera, 29. 82.

Desman, 25, 79.

I Besmodiis, 2*9. 82.

! Dicotytcs, 31 1, 92.

I Didelphyidtv, 57, 101.
i Dingo, 18.

; Dipodidie. 33, 84.
Biprotodon, UK).

Dogs, 17.
Borcathcrium, 41.
Dormice, 32, 84.
dorsal vertebraj, 65.
Dromedary, 40.
Bromicia, 55.
Duck-billed Platypus,
60.

Dugong, 95.
Du))licidentata, 84, 86.
Dwarf Antelopes, 46.

Echidna, 59, 103.
Edentata, 49, 97.
Eland, 45, 93.
FJaphodus, 94.
Elephant, 34, 87.

INDEX.

125

Elephant-Shrew, 25.
Elk, 48.

Enhydra, 20, 75.
Eotherium, 96.

Equiclse, 38, 90.
Erinaceus, 25.

Ermine, 19.

Eupleres, 16, 74.

Fallow Deer, 48, 94.
Felidm, 13, 72.
Eelsmothermm, 96.
femur, 66.

Fennecs, 18.

Ferret, 19.

Eiber, 32.
fibula, 66.

Fin- whale, 122.
Fissipedia, Carnivora,
13, 71.
fluke, 105.

Flying Fox, 81.

Flying Lemur, 30, 82.
Fl}-ing Squirrels, 31.
foramen magnum, 64.
Foussa, 15, 74.

Fox, 18.

Fruit-Bats, 81.
Furcifer, 49.

Fur-Seal, 21, 22.

Galago, 11.
Galeopithecus, 30, 82.
Gaur, 42, 93.

Gayal, 42, 93.

Gazelle, 46.

Gemsbock, 46.
Genetta, 15.

Gerenook, 46.
Geomyidffi, 33, 84.
Gerhillus, 32.
Gibbons, 8, 70.
Giraffe, 47, 94.
Globicephalus, 114.
Glutton, 19.
Glyptodon, 98.

Gnu, 46.

Goat, 45, 93.

Golden Mole, 27.
Gopher, 33, 84.
Gorilla, 6, 70.
Grampus, 114.
Greenland Whale,
Guereza, 9. [118.

Gulo, 19.

Gymnura, 25.

Halicore, 9.5.
Halitherium, 96.
Hapalidte, 10, 71.
Haplocerm, 46, 93.

Hares, 33, 86.

Harpy ia, 28.
Hartebeest, 46.
Hedgehog, 25.
Herpestes, 16, 74.
Hippopotamus, 38,91.
Hippotragiis, 46, 93.
Horse, 38, 90.
Howling Monkeys, 10.
humerus, 66.
Humpback, 120.
Hunter’s Antelope, 46.
Hyaena, 15, 73.
Hydrocliarus, 33, 85.
Hydropotes, 94.
Hylobates, 8.

Hylomys, 25.
hyoid arch, 64.
Hyperoodon, 111.
Hypsiprymnus, 54,
100.

Hyracodontidae, 90.
Hyracoidea, 35, 88.
Hystricidm, 33.
Hystricomorpha, 33,
85.

Ibex, 45.

Icficyon, 19, 75.
ilium, 66.
incisors, 64.

In dr is, 11.

Inia, 113.

Insectivora, 24, 78.
Iniins, 9.
ischium, 66.

Jackals, 18.

Jerboa, 33, 84.

Kangaroo, 53, 100.
Killer, 115.

Koala, 55.

Kobus, 45, 93.

Kogia, 111.

Kudu, 46, 93.

Lagomys, 33, 86.
Lagofhrix, 10.

Lama,, 41.

Lit ax, 75.

Lechee, 45.

Lemurs, 10, 71.
Leopard, 14, 73.
Lepus, 34, 86.

Lion, 13.
Lithocranius, 46.
Llama, 41, 92.
Lophiodontidae, 90.
Loris, 10.

lumbar vertebrte, 65.

Lutra, 20.

Lycaon, 75.

Lynxes, 14, 73.

Macaque, 9.
Macraucheniidae, 90.
Macropus, 53, 100.
Macroscelides, 25.

Man, 6, 67.

Manafus, 95.
mandible, 64.
Mandrill, 9.

Manidae, 52, 98.
Marmosets, 10, 71.’
Marmot, 31.
Marsupialia, 53, 99.
Marten, 19.
Megaderma, 28.
Megaptera, 122.
Megatheriuon, 97.
Meles, 19.

MelUvora, 20. ,
Mephitis, 20.
Mesoplodon, 111.
metacarpus, 66.
metatarsus, 67.

Mice, 32, 84.

Microtus, 32, 84.
molars, 65.

Mole, 25, 79.
Monkeys, 6.

Mono don, 116.
Monotremata, 59, 102.
Moschus, 49.

Mufilon, 44.
Mungooses, 16, 74.
Muntjac, 48.

Muridm, 32.
Musk-Deer, 49.
Musk-Ox, 43, 93.
Musquash, 32.
Mustelidae, 19, 75.
Mycetes, 10, 70.
Myogale, 25, 79.
Myomorpha, 32, 84.
Myopotamus, 33.
Myoxidm, 32, 84.
Myrmecohius, 57, 101.
Myrmecophaga, 50, 98.
Mystacoceti, 117.

Nanotragus, 46.
Narwhal, 116.
Nasalis, 9.

Nasua, 20.

Neobalmna, 120.
Neotragus, 46.
Noctula, 82.
Notoryctes, 58, 102.
Nyctereutes, 18.
Nyctipithecus, 10.

126

INDEX.

Odontoceti, 100.
Opossum, .07, 101,
Orang-Outang, 8, 70.
Orca, llo.

Orcella, 11.0.

Oreas, 4.0, 03.
Omifhorhynchus, 00,
102.

Onicterojms, 52, 09.
Oryx, 40, 03.

Of aria, 21, 78.
Ofocyon, 10, 74.

Olter, 20.

Ouakaria, 10.

Ounce, 1-1.

Ovihos, 43. 03.

Ovis, 44, 03.

Paca, 86.

Palaeotheriiclae, 00.
Palm-Civets, 16, 74.
Panda, 20.

Pangolin, 52, OS.
Paradoxurns, 16, 74.
Peccary, 30, 02.
Pecora, 41, 02.
Pedetes, 33.
pelvis, 06.

Pcrameles, .06, lOl.
Perissodacryla, 30,80.
Perodicticus, 11.
Petanrus, 55, 100.
Petrogale, 54.
Phacochoerus, 30, 02.
Phalanger, 54, 100.
phalanges, 66.
Pkascolarctus, 55,100.
Phascologale, 57, 101.
Phascolomys, 55, 100.
Pkoca, 23, 70.
Phocrena, 115.
Physeteridae, 100.

Pig, 30, 02.

Pika, 33, 86.

Pilosa, 40.

Pinnipedia, Carni-
vora, 21, 77.
Pifhccia, 10.
Platanistidie, 112.
Platvrrhini, 0, 70.
PlccofiiK, 20.
Poecilogale, 10.
Ponfoporia, 113.
Porcupine, 33, 85.
Potamochoerus, 02.
Pofamogale, 20.
Potoms, 54, 100.
Pouched l\rice,33.
Prairie-Marmot, 31.
premolars, 05.

Printed by Taylor

Primates, 0, 67.
Prionodon, .50.
Proboscidea, 34, 86.
Procavia, 35.
Procyon, 20.
Procyonida?, 20, 75.
Proechidna, 00, 103.
Pronghorn, 40, 03.
J^ropifhecus, 11.

Pr (deles, 15, 74.
Pferomys, 31.
Pferopus, 27, 81.
pubis, 00.

Pudu, 40, 04.
Putorius, 10.

Rabbit, 33, 86.
Raccoon, 20.
radius, 66.

Rats, 32, 84.
Reindeer, 48, 04.
Phachianectes, 120.
Rhinoceros, 37, V'O.
Phinolophns, 20.
likytina, 06.
ribs, 65.

Right Whale, 118.
River-Hog, 02.

Roan Antelope, 46.
Rodentia, 30, 83.
Roebuck, 48.
Rorqual, 122.
rostrum, 100.
llupicapra, 46, 03.

Sable, 10.

Sable Antelopes, 46.
sacral vertebra', 05.
Saiga, 40, 03^_
Sarcophihis, 57.
Sassaby, 4().
scapula, 6(5.
Sciuromorpha,31, 84.
Sc i urns, 31, 84.
Sea-Elephant, 23.
Seal. 23, 77.
Sea-Leopard, 78.
Sea-Lion, 21.
Sea-Otter, 20, 75.
Se?nnopil heats, 8, 70.
Sheep, 43, 03.

Shrew,- 20.
Simplicidentata, 84.
Sing-sing, 45, 03.
Sirenia, 04.

Skunk, 20.

Sloths. 40, 07.

. Sperm-Whale, 100.

I spermaceti, 111,
Spider-Monkeys, 0.
si>outing of Whales/
107.

Squirrel, 31, 84,
Squirrel-Monkeys, 1().
Steller’s Sea-Cow. 00.
Stenorhynchus, 78.
sternum, 65.
Strepsiceros, 46, 03.
Suida?, 30, 02.

Talpa, 25. 70.

Tanrec, 20, 70,

Tapir, 37, 00.
Tarsipes, 55, 1(30.
Tarsi us, 12, 71.
tarsus, 06. [101.

Tasmanian Wolf, 57,
Tatusia, 08.
Thylacinus, 57, 101.
tibia, 60.

Tiger, 14, 73.
Tolypeufes, 51.
Tragelaphus, 40.
'Tragulina, 41, 02.
Tree- Shrew, 24.
Triehechus, '2'2.
Trichosurus, 55.
Tvpaia, 24.

Tursiaps, 114.
Tylopoda, 30, 02.

ulna, 66.

Ungulata. 34, 86.
Ursns, 20, 77.

Vampyrus, 20.
vertebral column, 65.

J 7 spm(go, S2,

Vic>‘rra, 15, 74.

^■ole.s, 32, 84. .

Walrus, 22, 78.
Wapiti, -18.
Wart-Hogs, 30, 02.
Water-Puck, 45.
Water-Shrew. 27.
M'easel, 10, 75.
Wolves, 18, 74.
Wombats, 55, 100.

Yak. 43.

Yapock, .58.

Zebra, 38.

Zebu, 42.

Ziphiimv, 111.
zygomatic arches, 64.

Court, Fleet Street.

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BIBDS.

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REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS.

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