62 NATURAL (SCIENCE. Jan., 
(iv.) The Whitehead Collection from Palawan and Borneo, with 
numerous types. 
(v.) The Von Higel Collection from New Zealand. 
(vi.) Sir Walter Buller’s Collection from New Zealand, contain- 
ing the types described in the second edition of his 
classic work. 
(vii.) The Palmer and Scott Wilson Collection from the Sandwich 
Islands and Chatham Island. 
(viii.) An extensive collection made by Dr. Ernst Hartert in the 
Dutch West Indies. 
Among insects may be mentioned :— 
(i.) The Felder Collection of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. 
(ii.) The Boucard Collection of Coleoptera. 
(iii.) Part of the Doherty Collection of Lepidoptera from the 
Malay Archipelago. 
(iv.) The Rev. W. Hamilton’s Collection (in part) of Lepi- 
doptera from the Khasia Hills. 
Mr. Rothschild, it may be added, is now employing special col- 
lectors in the Sandwich Islands and Madagascar, and his series of 
birds from the first-mentioned islands is already unique, 
Enough has now been said to show how vast are the collections 
already acquired for the Tring Museum, and it only remains to 
observe how thoroughly Mr. Rothschild is carrying out the under- 
taking he has begun. Up to the present most of the material has 
been stored and comparatively inaccessible; but by the appointment of 
Dr. Ernst Hartert, the well-known ornithologist, as curator, the 
initial step towards order and arrangement has been taken. The 
cabinets of bird-skins have already been provisionally arranged ; and 
early next April Dr. Jordan, of Hildesheim, will enter upon his duties 
as assistant-curator in charge of the entomological collections. The 
general attendant, caretaker, and taxidermist will also shortly be 
provided with two additional men. In short, there will be an adequate 
staff to preserve and render accessible every part of the collections. 
It is the custom of certain official naturalists to speak dis- 
paragingly of those who, from personal taste, begin to form private 
collections, afterwards to find themselves deeply engrossed in the 
subject, and competent to speak with authority on special groups of 
animals. They declare that private collections are useless, being 
inaccessible and neglected. We have no sympathy with such 
expressions in any case; but more especially would we protest 
against the injustice of those who, even in public meetings, give 
utterance to these sentiments in reference to the Tring Museum. 
All the collections are preserved with the greatest care and 
arranged in the most approved and convenient fashion. As soon as 
Dr. Hartert and Dr. Jordan have had a brief time for work, every- 
thing will be as readily accessible as in the British Museum ; and we 
are permitted to add that, when this arrangement is accomplished, 
