13
space and opportunity, For the above reasons I would advocate per-
fect freedom of choice in the selection of specimens for the index collection,
the curator being allowed to press into his service those species which
best illustrate the points he desires to emphasise, preference being given
to forms which are the nearest allies of the local ones, and which inhabit
the same zoological region. Of course, throughout the index series con-
stant reference should be made to the local species exhibited in other
parts of the Museum, and in like manner the labels in the local collections
should frequently direct the spectator to the facts of classification, etc.,
demonstrated in the index collection.
" Similar methods may be applied to the exhibition of archaeological
specimens and objects of local interest. Archaeological collections
should be arranged either historically, or should exemplify as far as
possible (by pictures, models, and specimens) the origin and develop-
ment of each class of objects."
Such are the general principles which will guide the
Curator in the arrangement of the collections. There is no lack
of material in the County with which to store our Museum,
and almost every group occurring in Europe is repre-
sented. Essex is an extensive maritime county (987,632 acres)
and possesses a sea-hoard (following the indentations of the
estuaries and creeks) of nearly a hundred miles. Its fauna and
flora is very large, comprising, for example, 443 species of
Vertebrates, no species of Non-marine Mollusca, and about
1,100 species of Flowering Plants. The Pre-historic Antiquities
are numerous and varied, and although the local materials for the
study of geology are not extensive, the Crag-fossils, the Pleisto-
cene remains of Ilford and Grays and the numerous Post-
Pliocene deposits of Mollusca, &c, render the county almost
classical with palaeontologists. It is manifest that only a tithe of
the productions of a district so prolific can be publicly exhibited in
the Museum. In view of their popular interest a large propor-
tion of the Vertebrates will be shown, the larger forms being
represented by drawings or models, but of the Invertebrates only
a small percentage of such groups as Insects can be placed on
view. The floor-cases are so constructed that eventually cabinets
could be fitted in the spaces beneath, and in such cabinets will
be arranged the county or students series, which are intended to
comprise in time all the species of plants and animals known to
exist in the district. The exhibition cases will contain the
selected examples of local forms, together with the small type or
" index " set of specimens illustrating classification, morphology,
and, where possible, interesting facts of internal structure and