462 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ment of these specimens, in the preparation of skins and the mount- 

 ing: of skeletons. The chief osteoloo;ists and taxidermists were 

 brought from Europe, and their salaries are more than is received by 

 many an assistant professor. 



In alcohol are fishes and reptiles, such as the JLepidosteus, Polyo- 

 don, and Amia, of our Western rivers, the Calanioichthys of Africa, 

 the Siren and Amphiuma of South Carolina, and the Proteus of Eu- 

 rope; while in dry, upper rooms hang hundreds of skins of quadrupeds, 

 large and small, from all parts of the world, and carefully labeled. 



The excellence and trustworthiness of the work done by Prof. 

 Ward are further attested by the extent to which he is employed by 

 the Smithsonian Institution, the Cambridge Museum, and others both 

 here and abroad. Indeed, it is no unusual thing for material to come 

 from Europe to Rochester, and be returned to some Continental mu- 

 seum. 



But, while gladly commending what is done, we would offer a 

 suggestion as to what might be done with great advantage to our 

 educational institutions and a fair profit to Prof. Ward : 



1. Such an establishment should svipply the lower vertebrates, the 

 lamprey and particularly amphioxus, of which, also, sections might be 

 prepared for the microscope. 



2. There should be kept, or prepared to order, series of embryos 

 of some common animals : among mammals the pig, and among ba- 

 trachians the frog, are very easily obtained. All embryos are, in some 

 respects, more valuable than adults, and, if they were on hand, a de- 

 mand would surely arise. 



3. A series of brains should be added. The models of these, 

 whether plaster or papier-mache, are poor substitutes for the real 

 specimens. Nor need the number be very large; a dozen species 

 would fairly illustrate the modifications of the vertebrate encephalon. 



Speaking of brains, we cannot forbear expressing the hope that 

 Prof. Ward may shortly be able to impress his clients with the truth 

 of Prof Wyman's saying that " a skull is doubled in value by cutting 

 in two." The inside is quite as important as the outside, while such 

 vertical bisection, if carefully made, enables us to secure the two 

 halves of the brain but little injured.' 



. 4. Other anatomical preparations of soft parts, sections and dissec- 

 tions, are really desired for instruction, and a few typical preparations 

 could readily be made, 



5. Finally, we would suggest to Prof Ward the expediency of 



^ A case in point occurs while correcting the proof of this article. Prof, Ward has 

 received a " blackfish " {Ehhiocephahts melas). Knowing that the Cornell University 

 would like the brain, he sends me word ; but, as the section of the skull for extraction of 

 the brain would impair its value for most purchasers, we have to take the w^hole skeleton 

 also. The brain, by-the-way, weighs nearly live pounds, two pounds more than the 

 average human brain, and nearly a pound more than that of Cuvier. 



