Guide to the galleries of mammalia (mammalian, osteological, cetacean) in the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History).
- British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology.
- Date:
- 1892
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Guide to the galleries of mammalia (mammalian, osteological, cetacean) in the Department of Zoology of the British Museum (Natural History). Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![[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](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28122574_0106.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
