REMARKS ON MUSEUMS OF NATURAL HISTORY. 273 



elevation of the head than there should be, or too much depression 

 of the superior region of the moral sentiments, or if the animal pro- 

 pensities are rendered larger or smaller than in the original ! 



With these general introductory remarks I must, for the present, 

 conclude ; many extremely interesting proofs of their general accu- 

 racy are in my possession, and may be communicated at some future 

 opportunity. 



Doncastcr. Nov. 13, 1836. 



( To be continued J. 



SOME REMARKS ON MUSEUMS OF NATURAL 

 HISTORY. 



By John Edward Gray, F.R.S., &c. 



Staying lately in the neighbourhood of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 

 I repeatedly visited the Museum of the Natural History Society of 

 that town, and I was much pleased with the collection, and the ad- 

 mirable state in which it is kept ; but I was more especially gratified 

 with the liberality of the subscribers in throwing the Museum open, 

 without the necessity of an introduction, or any charge to their fel- 

 low-townsmen — a facility of access scarcely to be expected, except 

 in a national establishment like the British Museum. The mu- 

 seum of this society was formerly opened to all classes in an 

 evening, when it was lighted up for the occasion ; but the 

 visitors who availed themselves of the privilege were so numerous, 

 that it was impossible for them to inspect the collection with advan- 

 tage. The committee, in consequence, was under the necessity of 

 altering their mode of admission ; they now issue a certain number 

 of tickets each night, which are sent to the workmen of the differ- 

 ent factories in the neighbourhood, in rotation, for the admission of 

 the holder and his family, or to such persons as make previous appli- 

 cation at the institution ; a plan which has been found to give gen- 

 eral satisfaction. 



The anniversary meeting occurred during my stay in Newcastle, 

 and it is characteristic of the liberality of the subscribers, that one 

 of its members rose and inquired if the council had taken into con- 

 sideration how increased facilities could be given for the admission 

 vol. v. — no. xviii. 2 m 



