remarkable of the group are the lanky avocets, with their long legs adapted to hunt rivers for fish spawn and water insects:  among them, the long-legged plover should be noticed.  The varieties of the sand-piper, in the next case (129), now claim a careful inspection.  Sand-pipers inhabit various parts of the world, and, like the ibises, love the neighbourhood of water, where they seek the food congenial to them.  The Phalaropes, which are also represented in this case, are natives of the eternal ice of the arctic regions, where they subsist upon crustacea.  The visitor passes from the sand-pipers to the case of Snipes (130), including the British varieties, and the snipe of India.  In the next case (131) the visitor should notice the Chinese and South American jacanas, that walk about unconcernedly upon the floating leaves of water plants; with these are grouped the South American Screamers.  The three last cases devoted to wading birds, contain the varieties of the British and North American Rails:  the varieties of the Gallinule, including the European purple gallinule, the South American variety, and the Australian black-backed variety; and the Finfoots of Africa and America.  All these birds inhabit marshy land, or the banks of streams, and derive their food from the insect life that swarms near the water.  With the finfoots the collection of wading birds closes; but before going on his way, the visitor should glance at the paintings which are hung about the wall cases in this room or compartment.  These include portraits of Lord Chancellor Bacon; Andrew Marvel; a copy from the picture at Wimpole of Admiral Lord Anson; Camden; Matthew Prior; William Cecil, Lord Burghley; Sir Isaac Newton; Archbishop Cranmer; and George Buchanan.  Having examined these works, the visitor’s way lies in a direct line to the last room of the eastern gallery—­to that, the wall cases of which, are filled with the families of

Web footed birds.

This section of the birds includes all those which are able to support themselves upon the surface of the water.  The varieties include the gaudy Flamingos; the Albatross that frighted the ancient mariner; the Pelicans with their pouches; the impetuous Gannets, and the remarkable Frigate Bird.  And here, too, the visitor will find the varieties of ducks, geese, and swans, all classed in regular order.  The web-footed birds occupy no less than thirty-one cases; to each of which the visitor should pay some attention.  The first case of the series (135) is gay with the bright red plumage of the flamingos, with their crooked upper mandible, and their long legs and necks.  The next four cases (136-139) of the series are occupied by the varieties of the Goose.  In the first of these cases the visitor should notice the varieties of the spur-winged goose from various parts of the world; including the black-backed goose.  In the three following cases the white fronted and grey-legged European geese; the Canada and Magellanic geese; and