Fossil Oxen -- Scanian Fossil Ox bearing a Spear-wound -- Other Ancient Oxen -- European Bison -- British Bears -- Period of their Extinction -- Extinction of the Wolf -- Beaver Extinct in Britain -- Almost Extinct in Europe -- Dodo -- Accounts of Voyagers -- Seen in London -- Museum Relics -- Paintings -- Stelleria -- Cheiromys -- Moho -- Kaureke -- Manu-mea -- Nestor of Norfolk Island -- Great Auk -- Its Recent Abundance -- Catalogue of Specimens and Eggs in Cabinets -- Falkland Fox -- Musk Ox -- Hand-tree of Mexico -- Attempt to Estimate the Rate of Species-extinction -- Perhaps One a Year -- Question of Continuous Creation of Species -- Causes of Extinction -- Thoughts of Owen and Darwin -- Geographic Distribution an Important Element -- Fauna Peculiar to Islands -- Red Grouse -- Precariousness of its Existence, 1 II. THE MARVELLOUS. Vulgar Love of Marvels -- False Causes -- Counter Tendency of Science -- Blood-Showers -- Traced to Butterfly-discharges -- Worms in Horse Pond -- Crimson Snow -- Discharges of Birds -- Real Red Rain -- Waters turned to Blood -- Oscillatoria -- Infusoria -- "Raining Cats and Dogs" -- Snail-showers -- Frog-showers -- At Portobello -- At Leeds -- On the Continent -- Fish-showers -- The Aberdare Shower -- Explanations and Criticisms -- Veritable Fish-showers in South America -- In India -- In Ceylon -- Torpidity of Fishes in Mud -- Lepidosiren -- Its Structure -- Amphibious Fishes -- Climbing Perch -- Salarias of Ceylon -- Provisional Structure, 96 III. MERMAIDS. The Oannes of Berosus -- Assyrian Representations of Mermen -- Dagon and Atergatis -- Universal Belief in Mermaids -- Opinion of Swainson -- Sirens in Dongola -- Museum Specimens -- Japanese Ingenuity -- Accounts of Living Specimens -- Assumed to be Cow-whales -- Indian Accounts -- Scandinavian Myths -- Mermaids in Shetland -- A Love Story -- Cavern in Skye -- Veritable Narratives -- Hudson's Report -- Steller's Sea-ape -- Rencontre of Weddell's Seaman -- Merman seen at Landscrone -- Mermaid Captured by Six Shetlandmen -- Comments on the Story -- Critical Examination of it, 125 IV. THE SELF-IMMURED.