586 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



in an old building- in the Rue de Buffon, half a mile away, which is 

 very annoyino-, since in the present day complete security can be had 

 without this inconvenience. As a further security against tire, elec- 

 tric lighting is not used. The building with its furniture cost 

 $025,000. The architect was F. Dutert. In the white entrance hall 

 with columns there is a marble group by Fremiet, and animals in 

 relief as capitals, the whole simple, in the refined taste characteristic 

 of the French. On the right there is a charming little lecture hall 

 w ith a ceiling picture ])y Cormon, The March of the Races of Men 

 toward Light, and ten pictures illustrating prehistoric times. The 

 building consists princi]jally of a ground liooi", lighted on both sides, 

 and a second floor, lighted from above, with a gallery. The project- 

 ing stairway hall is situated at the eastern narrow side, and is of four 

 stories, with smaller rooms such as the lecture hall already mentioned 

 and some rooms for collections adjoining. It is surmounted by a high, 

 arched roof. The large hall on the ground floor (tig. Ill) is not parti- 

 tioned, is somewhat narrow (1-i meters inside) compared with its 

 length of 77 meters, and at the same time its ceiling is somewhat low 

 (H.G meters)^' compared with its length, but its effect is excellent and 

 imposing, and is a model as to its lighting. As regards the points of the 

 compass, however, the building is as unfavorably located as possible. 

 The long sides look toward the north and the south and the collections 

 are consequently exposed to the sun during the entire day. For this 

 especial collection it makes naturally very little difference, but the 

 window shades must 1)e drawn on the south side when the sun shines, 

 and this bathes ever^'thing in a colored light, an error which we 

 observe in many museums in the world, but which should always be 

 avoided. The windows begin at a height of 2.6 meters from the floor, 

 and are -1 meters high, 3 meters wide, the window piers being 1.8 

 meters wide. The cases, which are 2.4 meters high, stand against the 

 wall under the windows, and therefore receive their light from the 

 high wmdows on the opposite side. At the end of the hall on the 

 narrow side is a gallery. In this large hall the osteological collection 

 is installed, the larger animals in the center being uncovered — a mag- 

 nificent view — the others being inclosed in wall cases. These, made 

 with iron framework but wooden bases, though not answering the 



« The height of the halls I could not determine on the spot, but Mr. H. Sinding- 

 Larsen, an architect of Christiaua, had the goodness later to give me these measure- 

 ments, together with others, without, however, being able to vouch for their 

 absolute accuracy. In this nniseum, as in almost all which I visited in Europe and the 

 United States, it is very difficult to obtain inforuiation concerning the buildings, since 

 the directors, however willing they may be, do not have the data in their possession, 

 and the administrative and building authorities who have this information can only 

 be approached by foreigners with great inconvenience and with a great loss of time. 

 To obtain special information through correspondence is generally very difficult and 

 often impossible. 



