On the Formation of a Local Museum. 41 



In the arrangement of the Animal kingdom the two leading 

 divisions will be the Invertehrata and the Vertehrata — animals 

 ivithoiit and animals with vertebra, or spinal columns. The 

 invertebrate animals may be grouped in the following chief 

 subdivisions, called " Sub-Kingdoms," viz. : — Protozoa, Ccelen- 

 terata, Echinodermata, Vermes, Arthropoda, and Molhisca. The 

 vertebrate animals will, of course, comprise the Fishes, 

 Eeptiles, Birds, and Mammals. 



With regard to the mode of preserving the various speci- 

 mens of animals and plants which may be collected, we 

 cannot do better than quote from a letter of the late 

 Professor Bell, addressed some years since to the secretary 

 of a local natural history society, who was at that time 

 engaged in projecting a museum. 



The quadrupeds which it would be necessary to preserve 

 in any local museum are comparatively few and small. The 

 Bats, which are the especial objects of interest, should 

 be skinned and slightly stuffed, and may be pinned or 

 attached with thread to small pieces of thin wood or card- 

 board. 



Other quadrupeds, such as the smaller Insectivora, Car- 

 nivora, and Rodentia, should all be well and naturally stuffed, 

 as well as the birds, and should be kept in closely glazed 

 cases. Most of the Eeptiles are better preserved in spirits. 

 The skull of every quadruped should be preserved (by having 

 the flesh removed, and being then macerated in cold water 

 for some days), as well as the head and feet of the more 

 remarkable birds. 



The Bats, Voles, and Shrews, are objects of special 

 inquiry, and collectors should endeavour to obtain specimens 

 which would settle the question as to the identity or dis- 

 tinctness of several so-called species. 



Fish, like Eeptiles, are best preserved in spirit,^ and by 

 having a thread passed under or through the gill-covers, 



2 In this view we have ventured to differ from Professor Bell, who 

 suggested the preservation of fish by taking off half the skin, sticking 

 them on board, and varnishing them — a course which, for many reasons, 

 is objectionable. 



