X 893. THE MUSEUMS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 45 



whole block consists of two centrally situated halls 75 feet by 27 feet 

 6 inches, running parallel to each other, these are flanked on the north 

 and south by class rooms ; to the west is a low colonnade, while the 

 east end is formed by a large lecture hall capable of seating some 

 250 persons. The two central halls form the Museum proper ; they 

 are lighted by windows placed continuously on each side, immediately 

 beneath the roof, and also by a pair of large windows in their western 

 walls. 



The south hall is devoted to Antiquities, Ethnology, Art, etc. 

 In it are also contained many Carthusian relics, together with 

 weapons of the chase, utensils, and so on of local interest, which 

 furnish valuable mementoes of the simple country life of Surrey, a 

 mode of life which is all too rapidly vanishing before the advance of 

 railways and speculative builders. The two side walls are occupied 

 chiefly by collections of flint weapons and of ancient pottery. The 

 cases in which the latter is arranged are backed with continuous 

 mirrors, so as to enable both sides of the specimens to be seen without 

 opening the case fronts. Standing in the body of the hall are show- 

 cases illustrating the various processes by which engravings, etchings, 

 etc., are produced, or containing specimens obtained from the Swiss 

 Lake Dwellings ; others exhibit collections of ancient coins, Greek 

 sculpture, and so on. In short, this portion of the Museum appeals 

 to the anthropologist and antiquarian rather than to the student of 

 Natural History in its ordinary acceptation. 



To the north of this hall is the Museum of Natural History. 

 The main portion of this is by force of circumstances devoted to birds. 

 The accompanying ground plan will show at a glance the general 

 arrangement. The whole length of the west wall is occupied by a 

 large case with four glass doors which is to be devoted to mammals. 

 Down both the north and south walls run two shelves at the height 

 of about 3 ft. 6 ins. and 6 ft. 6 ins., on which are arranged the cases of 

 birds. On the front of the lower shelf is a continuous glass-topped 

 tray in which are placed the eggs, and where possible the nest of the 

 species standing behind and above on the lower and upper shelf 

 respectively. This collection of birds is of great local value ; the 

 major part of it was brought together during a period of many years 

 by the late Mr. W. Stafford, of Godalming, by whom most of the 

 specimens were both shot and set up. On the death of the collector 

 a considerable sum of money was subscribed from various sources in 

 order to prevent the collection from leaving the locality in which it 

 had been made or being dispersed, and the whole collection, thus 

 purchased, was handed over to the Charterhouse Museum. In 

 addition to this, a notebook exists giving many details of the capture,, 

 locality, etc., of the specimens, and notices of other authenticated 

 occurrences in the neighbourhood. It has thus been possible to affix 

 to many of the cases the exact date and spot whence obtained. The 

 wall space is insufficient to accommodate the whole collection, and 



