STUDIES ON MUSEUMS AND KIN DEED INSTITUTIONS. 585 



stories from tlic floor to the g'lass roof is eniptj. It would be well 

 adapted for the large whale skeletons, " but the}' are exhibited in the 

 collection of comparative osteology. Besides, they would detract still 

 more from the only source of light for the broad encircling galleries, 

 for these o])tain their light only from above. In consequence of this 

 tho}^, especiall}^ the lower ones, are much shaded, being in some 

 places so dark that nothing can be seen. In the front (Garden) portion 

 of the building are halls 53 b}' 10 meters, provided with light from 

 one side; on the ground floor these are 7 meters high, in the second 

 story 6, in the third stor}' 5, and in the fourth story, with the roof 

 work, 7 meters. 



In examining this building one can learn, as in man}' others, how a 

 museum should not be designed, A few of the special features of the 

 building have been published by F. Monmorv.* The building cost 

 $800,000, the fixtures $600,000. Photographs were not obtainable. 



The collection is installed in not verypleasing wooden cases, without 

 great care. In addition the cases are in some instances overcrowded and 

 filled to the top, where nothing can be discerned. There is still fol- 

 lowed here the almost universally abandoned practice of exhibiting 

 very many stufl'ed animals, reasoning that people who donate things — 

 and much is here donated — wish to see where the objects are placed. 

 This practice will necessarily have to be discontinued at some time, 

 even though republican France is moi'e conservative than elsewhere. 

 The working rooms of the oflicers and preparators are mostly in a 

 separate old luiilding. far away in the Hue de Buff'on, which is very 

 inconvenient. 



COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL, ANTHROPOLOGICAL, AND PALEONTOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 

 [Galeries d'Anatomie ComparOe et d'Anthropologie.] 



This collection Avas opened in 1898/' This building also has a taste- 

 fid exterior of red brick, with light stone trimmings and artistic deco- 

 ration. On the side facing the garden there are four bronze and 

 eight marble reliefs, representing human and animal life, by Barrias, 

 Marijueste, Coutant, and Gardet; in front of these, two statues by 

 Fremiet. On the narrow side, where the entrance lies, is a tympanum, 

 by Allar, representing the three kingdoms of nature. The building 

 is about 86 meters long and 15 and 27 meters wide. It is fireproof, 

 of iron, stone, brick, and cement. The protection against fire was 

 considered to such an extent that the workrooms of the staff are located 



f See also G. Poiichet: De I'affectation de la grande salle centrale des novivelles 

 galeries dii inus<?nm. Revue Scientijique, 3 S(5r., XLI, 1888, p. 334. 



f> lievue ghicrale de r Architecture (4), XII, 1885, pp. 2492-51, pis. lxiii-lxv. 



<^See Bnlletin des Nouvelles Archives du Museum d'llislorie Nuturelle (3), X, 1898, 

 pp. iii-xii. 



