were formed in the clay-nodule by shrinking; and if the specimen be closely examined, the shells will be found split across and displaced by the fissures; thus presenting an interesting illustration of the faults, or dislocations of the strata, so familiar to the geological observer. FOSSIL SHELLS.-Table-case 18.-These are chiefly from tertiary deposits; many are from the eocene strata of the Paris basin, at Grignon; these are recognisable by their whiteness; those from Hordwell by their dull leaden colour; while the shells from the Crag are more or less tinted with ochre. The specimens in both Cases are labelled, and named with great accuracy, by the eminent conchologist, Mr. S. P. Woodward, who has greatly increased the value and interest of this department of the Gallery of Organic Remains. CORALS AND OTHER ZOOPHYTES.- -Table-case 17.-Until these fossils are marked and arranged, it is in vain to attempt a satisfactory description. I can merely mention that there are some fine specimens of corals from the Silurian rocks, and others from the Coral-rag of the Oolite formation. FORAMINIFERA.Of this interesting family of invertebrata, whose organization and zoological relations have but very recently been understood, there are specimens of some of the larger forms in the Case before us; viz. of Nummulites and Orbitolites. Among the former, the visitor may observe a block of white limestone, composed of an aggregation of a species of Nummulites, of which there are detached specimens affixed to cards, and labelled; it is a fragment of the Great Pyramid of Egypt, that stupendous fabric being in a great measure built of nummulitic limestone.3 'I would refer the reader for an account of the nature of the Foraminifera, to my " PICTORIAL ATLAS OF ORGANIC REMAINS," p. 142, and p. 186; and Plates LXI. and LXII. 2 The structure of these bodies has lately been ably elucidated by our eminent physiologist, Dr. W. B. Carpenter; "On the microscopic Structure of Nummulites, Orbitolites, and Orbitoides." Geol. Journal for 1850. 3 This specimen was formerly in my collection. See "Wonders of Geology," vol. i. p. 248. CHAPTER V. PLAN OF ROOM V.-SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS-FOSSIL GANOID FISHES-SAUROID FISHES-CTENOID FISHES-CYCLOID FISHES-PLACOID FISHES-MALLOTUS VILLOSUS OF GREENLAND-FOSSIL RHINOCEROS SIVATHERIUM-LEPIDOTUS -ASTEROLEPIS-ANTLERS OF THE IRISH ELK-FOSSIL PLACOID FISHESICHTHYODORULITES — TEETH OF SHARKS AND CESTRACIONS BELEMNOAMMONITES TEUTHIS-BELEMNITES-SEPIADE NAUTILI-HAMITESSCAPHITES-TURRILITES-ORTHOCERATITES-SKELETON OF THE IRISH ELK -FAMILIES OF FOSSIL FISHES IN THE MUSEUM. THIS ROOM is chiefly devoted to the collection of Ichthyolites, or Fossil Fishes, which is very extensive, and admirably arranged and classified. The specimens from the Devonian, Carboniferous, Oolitic, and Cretaceous formations, include a considerable number of species and genera; and among them are some splendid examples of Lepidoid and Ganoid fishes. There are also many fine and rare Ichthyolites from the tertiary limestone of Monte Bolca, and from the slate of Glaris, and the keuper-schist of Mansfeld. In the Table-cases on the left side of this apartment, are placed the fossil remains of the Placoid order, among which there are many choice specimens of the teeth and dorsal rays of Cestracions and Chimaroids. The Wall-case F, contains crania, teeth, and bones, of the two extinct species of Rhinoceros, whose remains are commonly associated with those of the Elephant, Hippopotamus, &c. in the diluvial deposits of England and the Continent. A part of the splendid collection of mammalian remains from the tertiary strata of the Sewalik Hills, is deposited in Wall-case E. The cranium, jaws, and teeth, of the Sivatherium giganteum, and of an extinct species of Camel, Giraffe, &c. are in this Cabinet. A perfect skeleton of the gigantic IRISH ELK is a conspicuous object in the centre of this room; and there are antlers of the same noble animal on the Cases; one pair, originally in my collection, was purchased by me at the sale of the late Mr. Joshua Brooke, the eminent anatomist. A most interesting collection of fossil Cephalopoda occupies the Table-cases on the north side; it includes many rare and beautiful specimens of Belemnites, Belemnoteuthis, Ammonites, Nautili, &c. It is impossible within the prescribed limits of this volume to do justice to the vast and important assemblage of fossil remains which this room contains, and I am compelled to restrict myself to a rapid survey of the most interesting objects. I subjoin for the aid of the scientific visitor a list of the principal genera of Ichthyolites of which there are specimens in the collection; as my descriptions must necessarily be of a very general nature.' The subjects will be treated of under the following heads: viz. I. Synoptical view of the Contents of Room V. II. Fossil Fishes of the Ganoid Order. III. Ctenoid, Cycloid, and Placoid Fishes. IV. Fossil Mammalia; Rhinoceros, Irish Elk, Sivatherium, &c. V. Fossil Cephalopoda. ROOM V. (56 feet long.) SYNOPSIS OF CONTENTS. ORGANIC REMAINS. THE Wall-cases from A to D, inclusive, are filled with the rich and well-arranged collection of Fossil Fishes; M. Agassiz's classification is adopted. "They are divided into four orders, viz. the Placoids, Ganoids, Ctenoids and Cycloids. The first of these orders comprises fishes mostly of considerable dimensions, and whose skeletons, by reason of their soft cartilaginous nature, are less enduring than those of the osseous fishes; their fossil remains, therefore, generally occur as detached scales, spines, teeth, palates, and fins, some of which, being small objects, are arranged in the Table-cases. The remaining three orders, demanding ample space, are placed in the upright Wallcases. The red figures on the labels of the genera refer to the larger suspended boards bearing the names of the orders and families; but the names of the species are written on labels variously tinted, in accordance with the coloured tablets 1 I would refer the reader wholly unacquainted with Fossil Ichthyology, to my "Medals of Creation," chap. xv. within the cases, indicating the geological habitat of the respective specimens."-Mr. König's Synopsis. The upright divisions of the glass-frames are numbered and labelled with the names of the tribes and families, as shown in p. 416. A. [1 to 5.]. This Case is chiefly devoted to the Ganoid fishes. It contains beautiful specimens of the Devonian, or Old Red Sandstone genera (Cephalaspides), and of the Lepidoids of the Oolite, Wealden, &c. B. [6 to 13] contains a rich assemblage of Lepidoids, Sauroids, and Coelacanthians. Some splendid specimens of Rhizodus, Holoptychius, and Macropoma, are especially worthy of attention; the former are from the Carboniferous strata of Burdie House, the latter from the Chalk near Lewes; in the division [13], there is a large collection of coprolites of these fishes. Below the last-named specimens there are slabs of Old Red Sandstone, from Dura Den, in Fifeshire, with groups of fishes of the genus Holoptychius. The specimen of Holoptychius nobilissimus, on the ledge below the Macropoma, is a splendid fossil from the Old Red Sandstone of Clashbinnie, near Perth, by the Rev. J. Noble. There is, likewise, a rare specimen of the same genus from Lethenbar, Scotland. C. [15 to 22.] A beautiful collection of Ganoid, Ctenoid, and Cycloid fishes: many of these are from the Chalk of Sussex; others are from the tertiary strata of Monte Bolca, and among them are teeth, &c. of Pycnodus, Spherodus, and Placodus, from the Oolite. Fishes of the Perch Family; Sparoids, or Breams; Cottoids, or Bull-heads; Goboids; Chaetodons; Scomheroids, &c. D. [23 to 27] contains many fine examples of various species and genera of Cycloid fishes, comprising Esocids, Scomberoids, Clupeoids, Cyprinoids, &c. In this Case are some remarkable uncompressed fishes of the Salmon family, from the chalk of Lewes, in Sussex. In the division at the end (27), is a specimen of the only known existing species of fish that has been found fossil, namely, the Angmarset (Mallotus villosus), which occurs in nodules of marl of recent formation, on the West Coast of Greenland. E. This Case (on the right hand of the entrance to Room VI.) is filled with a very good collection of crania, teeth, and |