42 On the Formation of a Local Museum. 



may be attached to the stopper of a glass jar, and so 

 suspended in an upright position. 



Land and fresh-water shells, like birds' eggs, are best kept 

 in drawers, so as to protect them from the light, which would 

 otherwise soon cause their colours to fade. The best way to 

 free the shells from their inhabitants is to plunge them into 

 boiling water, and keep them therein long enough to ensure 

 death, when the animal is easily removed. 



With regard to the collection and preservation of insects, 

 every elementary work on Entomology gives full directions. 



Plants should be dried between sheets of botanical drying- 

 paper, which should be repeatedly changed during the 

 process, and kept under pressure, and, when dried, should 

 be attached by narrow strips of gummed paper to stouter 

 white paper of a uniform size — folio is best — and kept in 

 portfohos, or drawers. PalaBontological specimens should be 

 kept in glass cases to be readily observed, and careful notes 

 made of the localities in which they have been found. 



Every specimen, whether animal, vegetable, or pal^eonto- 

 logical, should have a ticket attached to it, on which its 

 generic and specific names, locality, date, and name of the 

 finder, should be legibly written ; while any additional notes 

 of interest should be entered in a book kept for the purpose. 



One of the most interesting results of these local col- 

 lections will be the light thrown upon the geographical 

 distribution of plants and animals, and the relation between 

 the geology of the district and its organised productions. 



Having, then, briefly considered the uses and advantages 

 of a local museum, and the sim^Dlest mode of collecting and 

 arranging the objects to be preserved therein, it may not be 

 out of place to offer some suggestions as to management, 

 which will be best entrusted perhaps to a Committee and an 

 Honorary Secretary. 



The Committee having determined certain preliminary 

 considerations, such as the housing of the collections, the 

 question of Museum Funds, &c., it will be found desu-able to 

 adopt some such rules (amongst others) as the following : — 



1. That all specimens, which must be in a good state of 



