62 NATURAL SCIENCE. Jan., 



(iv.) The W'liiteliead Collection from Palawan and Borneo, with 



numerous types, 

 (v.) The Von Hiigel Collection from New Zealand, 

 (vi.) Sir Walter BuUer's Collection from New Zealand, contain- 

 '\u<^ the types described in the second edition of his 

 classic work, 

 (vii.) The Palmer and Scott Wilson Collection from the Sandwich 

 Islands and Chatham Island, 

 (viii.) An extensive collection made by Dr. Ernst Hartert in the 

 Dutch West Indies. 

 Among insects may be mentioned : — 

 (i.) The Felder Collection of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. 

 (ii.) The Boucard Collection of Coleoptera. 

 (iii.) Part of the Doherty Collection of Lepidoptera from the 



Malay Archipelago, 

 (iv.) The Rev. W. Hamilton's Collection (in part) of Lepi- 

 doptera from the Khasia Hills. 

 Mr. Rothschild, it may be added, is now employing special col- 

 lectors in the Sandwich Islands and Madagascar, and his series of 

 birds from the first-mentioned islands is already unique. 



Enough has now been said to show how vast are the collections 

 already acquired for the Tring Museum, and it only remains to 

 observe how thoroughly Mr. Rothschild is carrying out the under- 

 taking he has begun. Up to the present most of the material has 

 been stored and comparatively inaccessible; but by the appointment of 

 Dr. Ernst Hartert, the well-known ornithologist, as curator, the 

 initial step towards order and arrangement has been taken. The 

 cabinets of bird-skins have already been provisionally arranged ; and 

 early next April Dr. Jordan, of Hildesheim, will enter upon his duties 

 as assistant-curator in charge of the entomological collections. The 

 general attendant, caretaker, and taxidermist will also shortly be 

 provided with two additional men. In short, there will be an adequate 

 staff to preserve and render accessible every part of the collections. 



It is the custom of certain official naturalists to speak dis- 

 paragingly of those who, from personal taste, begin to form private 

 collections, afterwards to find themselves deeply engrossed in the 

 subject, and competent to speak with authority on special groups of 

 animals. They declare that private collections are useless, being 

 inaccessible and neglected. W^e have no sympathy with such 

 expressions in any case ; but more especially would we protest 

 against the injustice of those who, even in public meetings, give 

 utterance to these sentiments in reference to the Tring Museum. 

 All the collections are preserved with the greatest care and 

 arranged in the most approved and convenient fashion. As soon as 

 Dr. Hartert and Dr. Jordan have had a brief time for work, every- 

 thing will be as readily accessible as in the British Museum ; and we 

 are permitted to add that, when this arrangement is accomplished, 



