ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 7 



has so often been in other ways greatly indebted. The 

 educational value of this collection is much increased by Mr. 

 Crouch's neat drawings of the living molluscs, shewing their 

 relation to the shells. I understand that a large collection of Forest 

 species is in course of preparation, and as this is the property of 

 the Club it will be a permanent exhibit. It is well to note, too, 

 that some of the living mollusca will be on view in the aquaria 

 in the museum, and I feel sure these will prove a constant 

 source of interest and instruction to the visitors. The 



fascination of living things makes an aquarium one of the most 

 popular features in any Museum, and amply repays the trouble 

 which it necessarily involves. 



It is not so easy to represent the Vertebrata of the Forest in 

 our small Museum as it is to illustrate the invertebrate fauna. 

 There is, however, in the Banqueting Hall a collection of Birds' 

 Eggs (founded on a collection presented by Mr. G. E. Vaughan), 

 in glass-topped boxes ; and as many eggs suffer by direct 

 exposure to light, they are protected, like the insects, by covers 

 to the table-cases in which they are preserved. These glazed 

 covers are utilized by the display of a charming series of coloured 

 plates and reproductions of photographs, illustrating the 

 residents, migrants and visitors to the forest, with their nests. 

 The effect of thus appropriating what would otherwise be bare 

 covers is admirable ; but let it not be forgotten that the judicious 

 selection, the neat mounting, and the careful labelling of such a 

 series of plates, must have required the expenditure of much 

 time and thought. It is evident that some sympathetic hand 

 must have been busy with this work, and I think I trace that of 

 Mr. Henry Cole. 



At present there is no collection of stuffed birds in the 

 Museum, but it is proposed, as soon as sufficient funds are in 

 hand, to place in the centre of the Banqueting Room a pedestal 

 case, divided into four compartments, each containing a small 

 collection of the Birds of the Forest, in association with their 

 natural surroundings. What species are to be represented I 

 know not ; perhaps it is not yet decided. But in view of the 

 great interest of the Heronry in Wanstead Park, I should think 

 that a group of herons, with the nest, would be at once 

 appropriate, attractive and instructive. Fortunately the Club 

 has, in its new president, a distinguished ornithologist, under 



