AERAXGEMENT OF MUSEUMS. 199 



complete survey of "Welsh natural history, it is probable, on the 

 other hand, that the general collection would form the chief source 

 of interest to the casual visitor and Icss-advanccd student. But 

 this general collection must be kept within moderate limits. The 

 investigator, vrho has occasion to study with thoroughness any 

 particular group of natural objects, will assuredly resort to the 

 great metropolitan collections ; and it would be absurd for a 

 provincial museum to endeavour to illustrate with completeness any 

 natural group, unless it happen to be indigenous. All that we 

 should attempt in the general collection is to convey to the visitor, 

 who uses it educationally, some broad, though clearly-defined, 

 notions of the larger groups of natural bodies. This may be done, 

 and indeed best done, bv the display of only a limited number of 

 typical specimens, provided that they are selected with judgment, 

 and displayed with intelligence. We have no need of a multitude of 

 objects, tending to bewilder rather than to enlighten. Nor should 

 we covet rare specimens, which always cost much, and often teach 

 little. ^Neither should we seek pretty and attractive things, such 

 as are to be found in some museums, heaped together in bower- 

 birdish fashion, where tliey gratify the senses, without nourishing 

 the intellect. Let us by all means have rare and pretty specimens, 

 if they can claim educational value, but not simply for the sake of 

 their rarity or theii' beauty. What we really want is a moderate 

 number of comparatively common objects, judiciously selected, 

 accurately classified, well displayed, and fully illustrated, where 

 necessary, by preparations and diagrams. Such a collection, 

 though small, would have far higher educational worth, and would 

 command greater respect from scientific authorities, than the large 

 heterogeneous collections of unassorted donations which frequently 

 form the bulk of museums of old-fashioned type." 



I have here only quoted Prof. Rudler's general remarks, which 

 are as applicable to the proposed museum at the Watford Public 

 Library as they are to the one the formation of which he was 

 advocating. The greater part of his paper, which should be read 

 in its entirety by all who are interested in the formation and 

 management of museums, is devoted to the expression of his views 

 as to what should be exhibited in the local, the general, and the 

 technological depaitments of the proposed central museum in 

 Wales, and as to the manner in which the objects should be dis- 

 played, arranged, and explained. 



Before leaving this subject I will quote briefly from some other 

 addresses, in the Reports of the British Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, which bear out my views. 



At the Glasgow meeting of the Association, in 1855, the Rev. 

 Prof. J. S. Hcnslow furnished a Report, drawn up by the request 

 of the General Committee, on "A Typical Series of Objects in 

 N'atural History, adapted to Local Museums," in which he said: 

 " Although our great national establishments in London are adapted 

 for displaying a large proportion of all procurable objects of natural 

 history, it would require larger funds than local museums are 



