II
pleasure and instruction of all who visit it, and to the advantage of the
Museum itself, considered as a permanent institution appealing for
support from the general public. In planning a local museum we must
never forget that its primary object from a scientific point of view is the
amassing together and permanent preservation, in such a way as to be
readily available for reference and study, of an authentic series of all
forms of animal and vegetable life, whether recent or fossil, occurring
in the district. This is an object rapidly increasing in importance.
The changes in environment effected by the extension of cultivation,
and the growth of the population, are constantly altering the conditions
of life in many districts, and it is therefore most desirable that
collections showing the distribution and local variations of the existing
fauna and flora, should be made before it is too late to do so. We have
also to consider the requirements of local working students, and the
services which such collections may render them in clearing up doubts
and difficulties in the correct determination of species, &c. There is
yet another and most important use of such collections, and that is the
furtherance of local research, by indicating how much is known, or
remains to be discovered, respecting the occurrence, distribution, or
life-history of each form or group of forms. Bearing in mind all these
aspects, it would be hardly possible, in forming collections, to err on the
side of too great attention to detail. In my view the series should be
as carefully selected and the specimens drawn from as many localities
as is reasonably possible. Not only should the adult forms be repre-
sented, but the young stages should be shown, and, where feasible, the
whole life-history of species should be preserved. It would be manifestly
impossible, from the exigencies of space alone, to arrange such collec-
tions in open cases, and even if possible, it would be highly undesirable
to do so. Collections of this kind are intended for permanent
preservation, and must be defended against dust and the injurious
effects of light. I would strongly advocate the liberal employment of
cabinets made to suit each class of objects, and where cabinets would be
unsuitable (as in the case of preparations in fluid) of dust-tight store-
closets. * * * Every working field naturalist will admit
the desirability of such collections of local species being formed in at
least each county in the kingdom, the series gathered together being
made accessible for study and comparison. But in how few instances
is the idea carried out with any completeness ! Some favourite groups
may be more or less efficiently represented, but the great variety of
animal and plant forms is not demonstrated in most local museums, and
visitors come away with the idea that birds, shells, and possibly a few
fossils, are the only objects occurring in their neighbourhood worthy of
attention!
" It appears to me that the remedy for this one-sidedness is a rigid
frugality in the public exhibition of specimens. A comparatively few
species in each order well displayed and explained, are infinitely better