Parker. — On an " Index-Collection.''' 77 



found. Two examples will illustrate the method of labelling 

 adopted : — 



Type Akthbopoda, 

 Including Crayfishes, Crabs. Centipedes, Spiders, Insects, &c. 



Examples : 



1. The Fresh-water Crayfish (Paranephrops setosus). 



2. The Bed Admiral Butterfly (Pyrantels gonerilld). 



General Collection.— Upper Gallery, N. and S. sides, Desk Cases 18—38 j 



Spirit Specimens on shelf above cases. 

 N.Z. Collection. — Lower Gallery, W. side, Desk Cases 5 — 11 ; Spirit 



Specimens on shelf above cases. 



Class Aves (Birds). 

 Example : 

 Red-fronted Parrakeet (Platycercus novce-zealandice). 

 General Collection. — Upper Gallery, Wall Cases on E., W., and S. sides ; 



Skeletons of Ostrich, &c, on ground floor, South 

 enclosure. 

 N.Z. Collection.— Upper Gallery, Wall Case on N. side. 

 Moa Remains.— Ground Floor, S. enclosure ; Upper Gallery, Desk 



Cases 41 — 43, and small wall case at S. end. 



I am aware that several objections may be made to the con- 

 struction of this model. From the strictly scientific point of 

 view, undue prominence is given to the vertebrata, while many 

 interesting invertebrate groups are omitted altogether. But this 

 is done purposely : the vertebrata must of necessity occupy a far 

 larger share of museum space, and attract more attention, than 

 invertebrates ; so that it is, I think, advisable to call special 

 attention to the classes of vertebrates, while the invertebrata 

 may well be considered by sub-kingdoms or types. Agaiu, the 

 retention of the type Vermes is a sacrifice of strict accuracy to 

 convenience ; but the curator of a small colonial museum may 

 be pardoned for sinning, in this matter, in company with Pro- 

 fessor Claus, in whose text-book (English Edition, vol. i., p. 

 303) the same conventional union of the various and divergent 

 worm-classes is made. 



It is also incorrect to place any existing species, or indeed 

 any existing lesser group, on the direct line of descent of the 

 higher animals. For instance, it is tolerably certain that none 

 of the ancestors of existing birds and mammals would, if 

 discovered, be classifiable with any of the existing subdivisions, 

 either of fishes or of amphibia ; but it is none the less certain 

 that what may fairly be called piscine and amphibian stages 

 must have been passed through. 



As a final objection, it may be said that a more correct mode 

 of construction for a model of this kind would be to make the 

 branches of such a length as to bring the ends of all of them, 

 and consequently the specimens they support, to one level : 

 advance of organization would then be indicated, not by height 

 above the ground, but by distance from a centre, and all but the 



