0)1 the Formation of a Local Museum. 89 



'' The pursuit of collecting and studying Natural History 

 objects gives to the persons who are inclined to devote their 

 leisure hours to it a beneficial training for whatever their 

 real calling in life may be ; they acquire a sense of order and 

 method ; they develop their powers of observation ; they are 

 stimulated to healthy exercise. 



" Nothing encourages them in this pursuit more than a 

 well-named and easily accessible collection. This local col- 

 lection ought to be always arranged and named according to 

 the plan and nomenclature adopted in one of the numerous 

 monographs of the British fauna and flora in which this 

 country excels ; and I consider its formation in every pro- 

 vincial museum to be of higher importance than a collection 

 of foreign objects." 



After such an expression of opinion from so high an 

 authority as the Keeper of the Zoological Department in the 

 British Museum, it will be unnecessary to dwell further on 

 this part of the subject, although we may add briefly that 

 such a museum, well carried out, is especially helpful to 

 science in fixing a date to the fauna and flora of the district 

 explored, and in giving the material means of contrasting it 

 with the condition of both at a later period in the ever- 

 changing circumstances of an increasing neighbourhood. 



As to the mode of forming and arranging such collections 

 as those contemplated, opinions will doubtless differ. The 

 following suggestions are offered for consideration : — 



In addition to such antiquities as may be discovered in the 

 neighbourhood, and secured from time to time,^ the three 

 chief divisions or departments of a museum will correspond 

 with the three great kingdoms — the Mineral, the Vegetable, 

 and the Animal. 



1 Of such antiquities as are not to be obtained for the museum, 

 drawings or photographs might be procured. 



[In the Museum of the Essex Field Chib no antiquities will be pre- 

 served, except such as may fairly serve to illustrate the subjects com- 

 prised in the department of Pre-historic Archeology. All other antiquities 

 should be deposited in the museum of the Essex Arclueological Society 

 at Colchester. — En.] 



