July, 1893. THE MUSEUMS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 41 



amassing a quantity of facts the record of which, though known for 

 years by the student of the " literature of the subject," is of inestimable 

 value in the training both of mind and eye. Secondly, the " scientific 

 variety," i.e., the boy who has deliberately chosen for himself a 

 scientific profession and desires an elementary training in those 

 subjects to which his after life is to be devoted. It is a lamentable 

 fact that, in my experience, with one or two exceptions, the boy field- 

 naturalist is not also the boy scientific. Granted, then, the existence 

 of these two types, it is evident that what is necessary, helpful, and 

 instructive to the latter, will not be palatable to the country gentle- 

 man in embryo ; technical knowledge of any subject is to him "stinks," 

 and as such not only is abhorrent to his nostrils, but may even disgust 

 him to so great a degree as to make him fear contamination even in 

 the open fields ! Many a boy, aye and man too, is much interested 

 in butterflies and moths, but has an extraordinary aversion to 

 Lepidoptera. 



It becomes, therefore, inevitable that a double arrangement of 

 the Museum should be contrived, (1) a general natural history collec- 

 tion, by the aid of which boys may identify their victims ; this should 

 be arranged in such a way as to elucidate the main structure of the 

 various groups in the animal and vegetable kingdom, and to stimulate 

 collectors to cease to be merely such, and advance to the condition of 

 accurate observers of the special group which they have made their 

 hobby. This may be done by the introduction of exhibits illustrating 

 the development and life-history of some common species, so that any- 

 one with but little apparatus can verify each phenomenon for 

 himself when once pointed out. 



(2) A small collection of types as fully described, labelled, and 

 explained as space will permit. In this series there should be no 

 hesitation as to the use of technical terms, but let each term be fully 

 explained and its derivation given, in order that the convenience and 

 necessity of its use may be apparent. It is advisable that this series 

 should conform to the course of class or special teaching adopted in 

 the school, and it is undoubtedly desirable that it should, to a certain 

 extent, follow the arrangement of some good practical text-book on 

 the subject, so that a boy with book in hand can work through the 

 entire series, or each section of it, prior to attempting the same 

 section with scalpel and forceps in the laboratories. 



We have not hitherto considered the needs of the general public 

 in School Museums, nor should they be considered apart from the 

 school with regard to arrangement. Nevertheless, it is a wise and 

 generous regulation to admit visitors freely, nor will the concession be 

 without return, for by this means the Museum is advertised, and 

 residents of all classes will readily present specimens of great local 

 interest, which ought to find their resting-place in some public 

 institution and not remain hidden in private halls or on cottage 

 mantel-shelves. 



