12 ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 



exhibition of a wider archaeological collection of local character. 

 The fittings should harmonize with the antique aspect of the 

 rooms, and the contents of the cases should carry the visitor 

 back, in imagination, to the distant past. All the antiquarian 

 objects now on exhibition might remain in their present home — the 

 relics from the Camps and the Chigwell Settlement, the stone 

 and bronze implements, the old fire-producing appliances, the 

 tapestries, the pictures, and the engravings of local interest. But 

 all the natural history objects should, in my opinion, be trans- 

 ferred to new quarters — spacious, airy, and bright — where they 

 would be more attractive and of greater educative value than in 

 their present rather unsuitable location. 



That the Forest Museum, even in its present state, is widely 

 appreciated, let the thousands who throng it every season testify. 

 But notwithstanding the crowds which pass through the rooms, 

 a large proportion being children, scarce a single instance is 

 known in which any damage has been wilfully done. This is the 

 more remarkable, considering what a large surface of glass is 

 exposed ; moreover, there are many specimens under glass shades, 

 accessible on shelves in the room, yet it is the rarest thing for 

 these or the small glass vivaria to get injured. 



To the schools which so often visit the Forest the museum is 

 a source not only of great attraction, but in many cases of 

 permanent profit. Children are quick to observe and ready to 

 remember, full of curiosity and usually interested in a remarkable 

 degree in living things, such as will be seen in the aquaria and 

 vivaria in the museum, So again, to the young naturalist visiting 

 the Forest, this museum is a feature of exceptional interest, for 

 here he may hope to identify the spoils which he has secured in 

 his rambles. Special attention should therefore be given to the 

 exhibition of common things. The resorts of the London 

 naturalist are unfortunately but few, and are getting fewer every 

 year, but we rejoice that the Forest, which is one of the most 

 favoured haunts, is preserved for ever from the defilement of 

 bricks and mortar. May it have eventually a museum which 

 shall be worthy of its reputation ! 



Five years after the Epping Forest Museum had been opened 

 another Museum under the care of our Club, of wider scope than 

 that at Chingford, inasmuch as it represents the whole county of 

 Essex, was formally opened at Stratford by the Countess of 



