IjS The Irish Naturalist. 



Royal Irish Academy, and to the natural history and other specimens in 

 the old Museum of the Royal Dublin Society. The history of the steps 

 leading to the transfer of these to the Science and Art Department in 

 1877 is traced at length, and the main points in the development of the 

 Museum up to the present day are sketched, the removal of the art 

 collections to the new buildings in 1890 being specially dwelt upon. 



A vote of thanks to Dr. Ball for his address was moved by the LORD 

 Mayor, and seconded by Dr. Ingram, the latter expressing a hope that 

 the visitors might both receive and impart information during their stay 

 in Dublin. The Lord Mayor then invited the members to spend an 

 hour at the Mansion House, which they did with much pleasure. 



June 27th. — The reading of papers commenced at Leinster House. 

 Mr. W. B. Pearsaee, f.r.c.s.i., described a "New Method of mounting 

 and arranging Dental Specimens and Casts." A tooth is cemented to a 

 fine wire inserted in the stopper of a glass tube, so that it can be readily 

 inspected from all sides. In the discussion which followed, the opinion 

 was expressed that this mounting would be suitable for such natural 

 history objects as small shells. 



Mr. H. B. White, m.a , gave "A Description of certain of the Fittings 

 and Appliances in use in the Science and. Art Museum, Dublin," com- 

 prising the cases and systems of shelving in the various departments. 

 Special attention was drawn to Mr. De Sales' patent hinge by means of 

 which two doors can be hung back to back without an intermediate 

 style. 



Mr. F. W. Rudeer, F.G.S., read a paper " On the Arrangement of a 

 Mineral Collection." He suggested that, in a small museum, the 

 minerals are better arranged by their bases, so as to bring together the 

 ores of the same metal, than bj* their acid constituents in accordance 

 with the most recent scientific classification ; the arrangement by bases 

 being more useful to miners and practical men. Where there is a large 

 collection, scientifically arranged, there should be subsidiary series, 

 illustrating metallic ores, precious stones, &c. This paper led to an 

 interesting discussion, some of the members advocating a strictly 

 scientific arrangement, while others thought (with Mr. Rudler) that the 

 popular and practical applications of the subject should receive most 

 attention. 



Mr. J. Paton, f.E-S., of Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, gave a 

 suggestive and humourous paper upon "The Education of a Curator." 

 He contrasted the old with the modern idea of a museum, and pointed 

 out with many illustrations how the curator of the present day is 

 expected to be an adept in all arts and sciences. His comparison of the 

 modern specialist to "an unicellular organism" specially amused the 

 meeting. He advocated a system of apprenticeship in museum work for 

 which preparation should be made by a sound general education, 

 specially in English, modern languages, drawing, and natural and 

 physical science. 



Mr. G. H. Carpenter gave an account of the " Collections to 

 illustrate the Evolution and Geographical Distribution of Animals," 

 which he has arranged in the Dublin Museum. The geographical collec- 

 tion is to be found along the south and west walls of the ground floor of 

 the Natural History building and illustrates by means of characteristic 

 specimens, maps, and descriptive labels, the general principles of 

 distribution, and the fauna of the six zoological regions of Sclater and 

 Wallace. The series to illustrate evolution is arranged in a wall case at 

 the eastern end of the same room, and shows by specimens, diagrams, 

 and labels some of the main facts of animal life and structure which 

 have led naturalists to belief in the doctrine of descent. 



A paper by Mr. J. M. Campbeij,, of Glasgow, on co-operative collecting 

 was read by Mr. Paton. The author suggested that a number of 

 museums should club together to support a collector, and divide the 

 results of his work. In the discussion which followed, the opinion that 



