v/ith all these come opportunities such as the older mus- 

 eums never knew. Let us, then, look somewhat minutely 

 into the work of a modern museum of natural history that 

 we may better appreciate its achievements and condone its 

 shortcomings. 



As soon as a specimen is received at the museum it is re- 

 ferred to tlie proper authority for identification. Members of 

 the staff of large museums are usually able to identify speci- 

 mens but they sometimes have to be sent away to specialists. 

 As soon as the specimen is identified it receives an accession 

 number which is marked upon it in the most permanent man- 

 ner possible. Under this number in an accession book is en- 

 tered all the available information about the specimen, which 

 is then placed in the study collection or on public exhibition. 

 From the accession record a catalogue card is prepared and 

 filed alphabetically for ready reference. Beside the accession 

 number and the name of the specimen the card bears a loca- 

 tion mark which shov/s where the specimen is at any time. 



The larger museums have both study or research collec- 

 tions and exhibition collections but many of the smaller insti- 

 tutions are confined to the latter. The study collection is, 

 however, the basis of all active work in a museum. It does not 

 make an impressive appearance because most of the speci- 

 mens are unmounted and are packed away in trays and draw- 

 ers. Yet here are many of the invaluable types, ail the dupli- 

 cates, and all specimens not on exhibition. It is a great mis- 

 take for a museum to exhibit all its material at one time, for 

 very much more interesting and instructive exhibits can be 

 prepared by judicious selection of specimens. The study col- 

 lection is used for research and studj^ by all properly quali- 

 fied persons and it should be conveniently arranged and pro- 

 vided with well lighted tables and a good working library. 



The organization of the exhibition collections is a more 

 complex problem and demands sound judgment as well as 

 the highest degree of technical skill. In order to accomplish 

 the best results a specimen should never be exhibited except 



