27<> REMARKS ON MUSEUMS OP NATURAL HISTORY. 



attachment to the physical sciences ; an union so rare, that we 

 know not where to find its parallel. The society in question has its 

 periodical meetings, and is supported by the annual contributions of 

 a very considerable number of members residing in that part of 

 Lancashire. We have had the gratification of seeing what has 

 been the result of this liberality ; and we hesitate not to say that 

 the zoological collection of this society, with a solitary exception, 

 is second to none in the Metropolis of Great Britain. Besides a 

 very fine collection of native birds, it is rich in the ornithology of 

 tropical America and of the United States. The collection of insects 

 is also extensive, but that of the Testacea yield only to the British 

 Museum in the number, the rarity, and the interest of the specimens. 

 The shells, in fact, amount to between 5000 and 6000 species ; very 

 many of which are undescribed, while others formed the chief or- 

 naments of the Bligh, the Angus, and the Swainsonian collections.* 

 This fact proves that commercial and manufacturing occupations are 

 by no means unfavourable to the prosecution of intellectual studies. 

 This is apparent, not only in the higher and more educated classes of 

 Manchester, but is very general throughout the operative classes of 

 the community. We were particularly struck one day, during our vi- 

 sit, at seeing two or three individuals of the latter description atten- 

 tively looking at some specimens in the museum, and comparing 

 them with others brought for the purpose. The superior tone and 

 manners of these humble admirers of Nature are very striking, and 

 at once shew the effect of such tastes upon the inward man." — p. 

 325-326. It may be said that the society has altered its rules since 

 this was written ; but by the accounts given me by the Manchester 

 collectors, and by the member whom I met at the museum this can 

 hardly be the case. 



* The society does contain a fine collection of British birds, which are 

 beautifully preserved ; but the extent of the collection of shells, as above 

 given, is, in my opinion, very much over-rated, as I know several private 

 collections of a far larger size and greater importance ; for I did not observe 

 a single remarkably or extremely rare shell in the collection, and I should 

 say, even with the recent addition (and some of the shells purchased of Mr. 

 Cuming are the best in the collection), that it scarcely consists of more than 

 2000 species, including many duplicates, especially of the more common 

 species. The Swainsonian collection, when it was purchased for £650, con- 

 sisted of 6180 specimens and 2511 species. It then contained •' the chief or- 

 naments of the Bligh and the Angus" collection. But we are informed by 

 one of the committee who purchased it, that " there were many duplicates" 

 of the more common shells, and * that many of the multivalves were only 

 single valves." 



