The Scott is J i Naturalist. 155 



thirteen others, the boundaries of which are for the most part the 

 watersheds of the chief tributaries of the Tay. It is unnecessary 

 in this paper to enter into details of these districts, and mention 

 has been made of them merely to show that when the natural 

 history of each is illustrated by specimens a considerable amount 

 of space will be required in the Museum, though, as they may be 

 expected to bring out many interesting features, this space will be 

 well utilised. 



As in the Index collection, so in the Perthshire collection every 

 specimen is kept under glass. For this purpose tall cases, con- 

 structed of mahogany and plate-glass, have been provided for the 

 larger specimens ; and for the smaller ones, cabinets below the 

 table-cases. The tall cases are about eight feet in height, and 

 vary in length and breadth according to their situation. Without 

 entering into lengthy details of the specimens already procured, a 

 few words on the means adopted for showing them will probably 

 not be devoid of utility to others interested in forming a local 

 museum. 



The mammals and birds are all mounted on stands of white 

 wood, plainly varnished, and differing only in size and shape 

 according to the specimen which is placed upon them. A light 

 frame-work of iron in each case carries movable bars, upon which 

 are placed shelves of plate-glass, or, for heavier specimens, shelves 

 made of stout iron-wire painted white. By this means the light 

 is not intercepted, and, as the tops of the cases are also in most 

 instances constructed of glass, each specimen can be well seen. 

 To the stand of each specimen is attached a label, giving as much 

 information as is possible in a small space. The information thus 

 conveyed by these labels includes : — 1, The common name of the 

 species ; 2, the scientific name; 3, the local (i.e., the Perthshire) 

 name or names, both lowland and highland, when such exist ; 4, 

 the place and the district whence the specimen came ; 5, the sex, 

 the stage (i.e., in the case of mammals, whether in summer or winter 

 fur ; in the case of birds, the plumage, whether that of summer or 

 winter, of the breeding period, or transitional from one to the 

 other, or of the young or the adult), and the date when obtained ; 

 6, the habit or mode of life of the species, as, for example, in the 

 case of birds, whether it is permanently resident, a summer or 

 a winter visitant, or a casual visitor ; 7, the food ; and 8, the 

 name of the donor of the specimen. Though most of the labels 

 are only 3x2 inches, yet by a little care a great deal of interest- 

 ing information can be given. In addition to this, each specimen 

 is numbered, and its history preserved in a catalogue with corres- 

 ponding numbers. 



The collection of mounted specimens is supplemented in two 

 ways, though as yet not very much has been done in these. One 

 is by having skeletons of each species, and the other by having a 

 collection unmounted. The latter is kept in drawers in the 



