IO ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 



artificial from the natural, and recognizing two groups of 

 objects appealing to two types of visitor, not always 

 in sympathy with each other's tastes. 



Now that the Forest Museum, after costing so much thought, 

 labour and money, is approaching within moderate distance of 

 completion — so far at least as is contemplated by our modest 

 scheme— it seems rather ungracious, not to say ungrateful, to 

 raise any doubt as to the fitness of the present building for 

 the purposes of a Natural History Museum. And yet such a 

 doubt can hardly be repressed by any unprejudiced visitor. No 

 one will deny that the building is much too small, and that the 

 illumination in parts is sadly defective. Even with the addition 

 of the new glass cases suggested in our scheme, there will be 

 provision for only a very inadequate representation of the 

 fauna and flora of the Forest. Mr. E. N. Buxton has very 

 wisely raised his voice against over-crowding the Rooms. No 

 one but a naturalist has any notion of the prodigality of life 

 in the Forest district, and even the naturalist has probably 

 but very imperfect ideas on such a subject. It is related that a 

 certain professor once projected the formation of a Museum 

 to be confined to the natural objects collected in the Gardens of 

 Lincoln's Inn ; but after a while he found himself compelled 

 to abandon his scheme in consequence of the great number and 

 variety of objects which the locality yielded. (9) If Lincoln's Inn 

 Fields are so rich, what must the Forest be ? The district which 

 we desire to illustrate in the Museum is indeed much too prolific 

 to be adequately represented in our present restricted quarters. 



Nor is the illumination everywhere sufficient, except on very 

 bright days, to enable the visitor to inspect the specimens with 

 satisfaction. It is true that many natural objects suffer from 

 exposure to light, but the Curator can always shut out light, or 

 moderate it, by means of blinds, whilst he can hardly ever 

 admit more natural light than the architect has permitted. It is 

 therefore, in my opinion, a matter of prime importance that 

 every Museum should be so constructed as to allow a free 

 flood of light into the exhibition galleries. Some people possibly 

 may think otherwise, and prefer a dull and dreary place. One 

 of the most curious remarks I ever met with in connection 



(9) Hints on the Formation of Local Museums. By the Treasurer of the Wimbledon 

 Museum Committee, London, 1863, p. 20. 



