258 ON THE AIMS AND USES OF PROVINCIAL MUSEUMS.
It may be that to some of our readers what has been said may
seem needless, or even hurtful, as tending to discourage many that
would wish to be liberal donors, but who would shrink from offering
what may be refused by the directors of museums managed on such
principles. But there is little risk of a result prejudicial to the best
interests of the institutions ; while it would be a very great advantage
to be free from the burden of accumulations of material useless at
the best, and even injurious as interfering with the efficient fulfilment
of the chief uses of the museums to the districts, to the scientific
public, and most of all to the societies that undertake the work of
forming them.
Pomatorhine Skua in the Blackwater.—On December 19th last I saw
here at Barham's two immature Pomatorhine Skuas (Stercorarius pomatorhinus).
One was shot by Joe Stubbins off Heybridge Basin, the other by Sam Barham off
Bradwell Chapel. I believe a third was obtained about the same time, as John
Barham told me that Joe Handley, or one of his boys, had shot a strange gull on
the river. It was this I called at Barham's to see, but could learn nothing of it,
nor have I heard since what became of it, but as it was described as a brown gull,
I have little doubt it was another Skua in its first year's plumage.—Edward A.
Fitch, Maldon.
Local Museums.—"The Museum should be the centre of scientific
teaching in all branches. It should have a library of reference of not less
than 500 volumes, a well-appointed laboratory, a lecture theatre, and cabinets of
specimens arranged especially for teaching purposes ; and it should either be
itself a College of Science, with professors attached to it, or it should be in such
contact with all scientific teachers in the town that they may make use in turn of
the rooms and appliances provided there. For this purpose the building must be
in a central position, readily accessible. The whole contents and resources of
the Museum must be open to students under proper supervision ; and for their
use specimens, other than those from the locality, must be provided. These must
not be collected at random, but carefully selected as typically representing
species, genera, families, or orders, which are not found in the locality."—F. T.
MOTT. "Everything in the Museum should have some distinct object. . . .
and everything else should be rigorously excluded. The curator's business will be
quite as much to keep useless specimens out of the Museum as to acquire those
that are useful. . . . Above all things, let the following words of Agassiz
be remembered: 'The value of a Museum does not consist so much in the
number as in the order and arrangement of the specimens contained in it.'"—
Prof. W. H. Flower.