Page 203
Nat. Hist. Museum. BERLIN.
Section 9. 163
(one with traces of the skin, another with embryo) and foot-prints
of the Chirotherium; by the partition in front, to the left, marine
crocodiles (Steneosaurus); by the partition wall to the right, Ple-
siosaurians, at the back, a specimen in perfect preservation. By the
fifth window to the left is.a well-preserved Arelueopteryx in Soln-
hofen slate, the oldest fossil bird as yet discovered, slightly im¬
pressed on a slab of stone, the chief glory of the collection. (Another
specimen of the Arehseopteryx is in the Natural History Museum at
London, and a cast of it is exhibited here.) In the middle are skel¬
etons of the extinct giant bird (Dinornis) of New Guinea. The last
section of the room contains a sea-cow (Halitherium Schinzi), re¬
mains of extinct quadrupeds, and the skin of a giant sloth from
Patagonia.
The Mineralogical Mi'seum lies to the left of the entrance.
The room next the street contains the petrographical collection. In
the principal room opposite is a series of table-cases containing
an unusually beautiful crystallographic collection, systematically
arranged. The stages in the upright cases illustrate the co-occur¬
rence of minerals and their usual position in geological sequence.
In the first cabinet on the right are large specimens of amber,
malachite, and topaz; in that to the left are rock-crystals and ame¬
thysts. The table-case by the last window to the left contains
precious stones. The collection of meteorites in the centre of the
main corridor is one of the largest in existence. The Gothic cabinets
contain the finest specimens from the collection of Karl Rumpf.
The Zoological Museum is an admirably selected collection,
illustrating all the important groups of the animal world, with the
fauna of Germany placed in the foreground (official guide 20 pf.).
The preparations of various parts of the body should be noticed.
The visitor should begin with the glass-covered court in which the
larger animals are exhibited, comprising the cast of the skeleton
of a Diplodocns 79 ft. in length, from N. America. Beyond, in the
central rooms of the transverse building, are the Mammals. — A
hall adjoining these on the W. is devoted to the most important
Mammals and Birds of Germany, of which the complete lists
number respectively 69 and 440 species. — Three wings project to
the N. from the above-mentioned transverse building. In that to the
W. is the extensive Systematic Collection of Birds. — The second
contains the Invertebrate Animals (sponges, corals, shells, snails,
etc.). At the beginning, on the right, is a gigantic cuttle-fish, at
the end a coral-reef and an oyster-bed.—The E. portion of the
transverse building is devoted to Reptiles, Amphibia, and Fishes.
— The E. projecting wing, immediately adjoining, contains Insects
and Crabs, with illustrations in some cases of the animals' habits
and methods of life. To the left are butterflies and bees (notably
colonizing bees); to the right, beetles and spiders.
11 *