British Museum (Natural History) General GuideBritish Museum (Natural History)
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British Museum (Natural History) General Guide
British Museum (Natural History)
British Museum (Natural History) -- Guidebooks; Natural history museums -- England -- London -- Guidebooks
The north side of the table-case in bay V is mainly devoted to the
display of the different types of scales, spines, and teeth found
among Fishes. In one corner are the enamelled “ganoid” scales of
the modern American Bony Pike (_Lepidosteus_) and the African Bichir
(_Polypterus_) alongside those of certain extinct forms. A scale of the
Tarpon, or King-of-the-Herrings, illustrates the largest development
in point of size of the modern “cycloid” type. Spines of the
Porcupine-fish show an extreme development of this kind of structure.
Diagrams and spirit-preparations illustrate the mode of attachment and
succession of fish-teeth. A large series of the teeth of Sharks and
Rays displays the gradual passage from those of the ordinary pointed
form to others arranged in a pavement-like manner and adapted solely
for crushing. Both types occur in the Port Jackson Shark (fig. 13),
but those of some Rays are solely of the pavement modification. Very
remarkable is the dental structure in the Parrot-fish. The west end of
this side of the case shows the various modifications assumed by the
teeth of the modern Bony Fishes; among which, as exemplified by the
Wrasse, teeth are developed on the bones of the throat, as well as on
those of the jaws. Throughout this case specimens, or models, of the
teeth of extinct Fishes are placed side by side with those of their
nearest living relatives.
[Illustration: FIG. 13.--A JAW OF THE PORT JACKSON SHARK (_Cestracion
philippi_), showing sharp teeth in front and crushing ones behind.]
The wall-case on the north side of this bay shows the history of the
development of various Fishes, together with the form and structure of
the gills, brain, heart, digestive system, and other organs.
[Sidenote: Lancelet.]
A small case affixed to the pillar at the entrance of the fifth
bay illustrates the structure of the Lancelet (_Branchiostoma_, or
_Amphioxus_), by the aid of spirit-specimens, enlarged models, and
coloured diagrams. One of the most remarkable features in the structure
of this strange and primitive little creature is the outer cavity
enclosing the part of the body which contains the large and complex
pharynx. The Lancelet was formerly included among the Fishes, but is
now accorded the rank of a class (Cephalochorda) to itself.
Leaving bay VI, next the principal staircase on the east side of
the central hall, which is devoted to illustrations of heredity,
especially in relation to the Mendelian theory, and to modes of Flight
in Vertebrates and Insects, we pass on to a table-case assigned to the
illustration of “Mimicry” and kindred phenomena. Most of the examples
shown occur among Insects; but one example among Mammals and a second
in Birds are illustrated. Very striking is a coloured sketch showing a
group of red and black caterpillars from Singapore grouped side by side
on the stem of a plant so as to present a remarkable similarity to a
succulent fruit.
[Sidenote: Bay VIII.]
[Sidenote: Bay IX.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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