3.22 The Stricklainl Collection 



the skin until it becomes of preposterous size, is a vexation to 

 every collector; and neither the Strickland nor the Swainson 

 collection is entirely free from these awkw^ard specimens. 

 The process of disembowelment, however, judiciously and 

 lovingly carried out, has restored many a " monstrum informe, 

 ingens" to its natural grace, and there are very few in the 

 Strickland collection which now require even the double super- 

 ficies or the treble depth of drawer. 



It must be added that each drawer has a moveable glass lid, 

 and each cabinet a sliding door — precautions, it is hoped, which 

 will preserve the specimens from all the ills to which skin is 

 heir. The cabinets themselves, mostly standing at right angles 

 to the walls of the Museum, form little compartments, the 

 entrances to which will be further guarded by gates of open 

 work; and thus are formed small " chapels ^^ (so as to speak) 

 wherein the devotees of Swainsonian or Stricklandian types 

 may study with the greatest convenience the precious relics by 

 which they are surrounded. 



Thus much as regards the accommodation and fittings provided 

 for these collections : a i^^ words on the contents of Strickland^s 

 are here required. The pious care of the partner of his life has 

 not only kept them in admirable condition and order, but has 

 further been extended to making an accurate catalogue of them 

 arranged according to the system adopted by him in his ' Orni- 

 thological Synonyms ' — the gigantic and useful employment 

 in which he was engaged when stricken down in the vigour 

 of manhood by death, and the manuscript of which still remains 

 in her hands. A copy of this catalogue has accompanied the 

 collection ; and by its means any specimen can in a very few 

 minutes be found ; for the devotion of Mrs. Strickland to her 

 late husband's memory did not stop at the mere placing of his 

 ornithological treasures where they will be safe and available for 

 consultation ; she spent many days in arranging them, so that 

 the whole collection, now laid out in one hundred and eighty-twu 

 of the drawers described, is in perfect order, each specimen 

 with its appended label giving all the information known con- 

 cerning it. 



The collection consists oi five thousand eight hundred and tivo 



