i893. THE ROTHSCHILD MUSEUM. 6i 



and coloured from life by Mr. Frohawke : the preservation and 

 colouring of the carunculated skin of the neck form one of the 

 greatest triumphs in the taxidermist's art. Young emus, showing 

 the striped character of the early plumage, are also interesting ; and 

 to illustrate the development of the struthious birds in the past, Mr. 

 Rothschild has added a model of the skeleton of the New Zealand 

 moa, other moa bones, and a complete egg of the great extinct 

 Madagascar bird, A£pyornis. In an adjoining case the display of 

 eagles also deserves special notice. 



Passing to the gallery, there are a few striking fossils occupying 

 the walls of the staircase, notably Ichthyosaurus and Steneosaurus from 

 the Lias, and a large palm-leaf from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, 

 near Verona. A striking object here also is an enormous stuffed 

 python, from Western Africa. The large specimens to be seen from 

 the galler}?^ scarcely require detailed enumeration, the general arrange- 

 ment being shown in the accompanying Fig. 2. Mr. Rothschild, like 

 a true naturalist, does not regard extinct animals as belonging to a 

 totally distinct domain from those now living ; and he thus places, 

 for comparison with the sloths and armadillos, models of the skeletons 

 of Megathevium and Glyptodon. There is also a noteworthy extinct 

 giant tortoise, Testudo gmndidieri, from Madagascar, represented only 

 by the shell ; the limbs of this animal (it is said) having, by accident, 

 been offered to and purchased by the British Museum. Around the 

 walls are the fishes and reptiles, only a small space being reserved 

 for the other groups, which, as we mentioned above, are confined 

 merely to typical examples. Of the fishes, the best things to be seen 

 are a saw-fish, some sturgeons, some excellent specimens of European 

 species, and a few in spirits. In the hanging boxes on the balustrade 

 the insects are remarkable for their perfection, and here the same rule 

 is carried out, that of showing only typical examples of the various 

 orders. 



All these collections are open to the public during certain hours 

 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and it is gratifying 

 to find that Mr. Rothschild's liberality is appreciated. Since the formal 

 opening early in September, no less than 16,000 visitors have been 

 admitted, and the largest attendance is on the Wednesday evening 

 from 4 to 7, when as many as 300 persons frequently pass the door. 

 The Museum is lighted throughout by electricity, and the rows of small 

 incandescent lamps are most conveniently and admirably arranged. 



Referring next to the purely scientific collections, it must suffice 

 merely to enumerate the various series of specimens they comprise. 

 Among birds may be mentioned the following : — 



(i.) The Bartlett Collection of weaver birds and finches, 

 (ii.) The Holdsworth Collection from Ceylon. 



(iii.) The Bruijn and Beccari Collection both of birds and 

 mammals from New Guinea, containing many type- 

 specimens of birds described by Count Salvadori. 



