VI. 



The Rothschild Museum, Tring. 



So considerable a part of the richness of our pubhc collections in 

 Natural History is due to the interest and munificence of private 

 individuals, that every true student will welcome with gratitude each 

 new recruit in the ranks of those who devote their energies and re- 

 sources to the amassing of materials for investigation. Of these 

 disinterested workers, who not merely collect but also pursue scien- 

 tific research, there are happily many still rising in Britain to replace 

 the older generation now quickly passing away : and conspicuous 

 among those in. the forefront of progress must be placed the Hon. L. 

 Walter Rothschild, whose interest in the cause of Natural History 

 has of late attracted so much attention. Since his undergraduate 

 days at Cambridge, when he came under the influence of Professor 

 Alfred Newton, Mr. Rothschild has devoted himself with enthusiasm 

 to the pursuit of Ornithology and Entomology ; and while following 

 these studies he has not remained satisfied with the resources of the 

 University and National Museums, but has amassed great collections 

 which in some respects rival, and even surpass, those of the British 

 Museum itself. His endeavours have met with so much success, that 

 he has recently erected a commodious museum at the town of Tring, 

 his place of residence, to contain the collections ; and he has now 

 added to his private cabinets of Ornithology and Entomology a fine 

 series of typical animals of other groups, arranged for the instruction 

 of the general public, who are admitted on four days of the week. 

 Few naturalists have hitherto visited the museum, the study-cabinets 

 being still incomplete ; but, by the courtesy of Mr. Rothschild, 

 we have lately enjoyed the privilege of seeing the arrangements so far 

 as advanced, and it will be of interest to those engaged in research 

 to learn the present position and prospects of the institution. 



The Museum and " Cottage," of which we give a side-view in 

 Fig. I, is a red brick structure, about loo ft. long by 50 ft. broad. 

 Attached to one of the outer walls is a taxidermist's and general 

 workshop ; while, a short distance away, a space of ground, occupied 

 by cages and a paddock, is arranged for the accommodation of living 

 animals, kept for the observation of their habits and life-history. The 

 museum itself consists of one large room, 65 ft. by 32 ft., with a 

 gallery all round, some 15 ft. from the floor. Two large glass cases, 

 about 50 ft. long, occupy the central floor, and the whole of the wall- 

 space, both on the ground floor and in the gallery, is one continuous 



