i895. THE NEWCASTLE MUSEUM. 117 



building. The collections are displayed in floor-, double desk-cases, 

 and in wall-cases. A uniform white or light background is used 

 throughout, though some of the light-coloured specimens, as can 

 easily be imagined, would be better displayed against a dark back- 

 ground. We find, too, on looking a little more closely, that though 

 the labelling of the main groups is boldly and carefully done, the 

 specimen labels are often very indistinct. There are no special 

 features of display or arrangement ; no attempt to teach particular 

 lessons, such as we find in so many modern museums. 



The specimens have been simply arranged in systematic or 

 linear order as far as the arrangement of the cases and other circum- 

 stances permitted. The first room is devoted to the Invertebrata, 

 the Pisces, Amphibia, Reptilia, and Mammalia ; the second to the 

 Hancock collection of birds ; and the third holds part of the exhibi- 

 tion of fossils and minerals, which extends into two of the corridors. 

 A third corridor has received bulky rock and mineral specimens and 

 the large cetacean possessions. 



The Protozoa, the Medusae, and the Actinozoa are illustrated by 

 models, and other invertebrate groups by more or less complete 

 series of specimens, chief among which we note the Alder and 

 Hancock Mollusca, and the Insecta. The fishes are altogether 

 represented by stuffed specimens and a few skeletons, including one 

 or two disarticulated skulls. Gymnuvus Banksii and Trachypterus 

 aycticus are conspicuous among the more important forms. Along 

 with the stuffed specimens of Amphibia and Reptilia we see a few 

 spirit preparations. These might with advantage be added to, and 

 attempts made to follow Hamburg, for example, in using shallow, 

 upright, rectangular bottles, so that the specimens might be shown in 

 horizontal, natural attitudes. Among the mammals, we note in 

 passing the Marsupial Mole, Notoryctes typhlops, an embryo of the 

 Greenland whale, as well as other interesting cetacean skeletal parts, 

 and the head of a Chillingham bull, while the skeleton of a Chillmg- 

 ham cow may be seen in one of the corridors. 



The Hancock collection of birds is a magnificent display of 

 numerous examples of the art of the master. The general collection 

 is effectively shown in separate wall-cases, and a few artistic groups 

 occur in the middle of the room. " How not to do it " is illustrated 

 in some relics of the Allan Museum, shown in the gallery. These 

 specimens, however, are very interesting as having been used by 

 Bewick for his illustrations. The great Auk from this collection, 

 unique in being in immature plumage, and another specimen got by 

 Hancock, are, of course, more than interesting, so is the egg which 

 the visitor may see on application, along with many beautiful plaster 

 of Paris casts made and painted by Mr. Hancock. 



The fossils are arranged according to the horizons of their 

 occurrence, and to enumerate them here would be to make this article 

 endless. They have been well arranged (largely in wall-cases 



