REPORT of the 
PROVINCIAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 
FOR THE YEAR 1923. 
By FRANcIS KERMODE, DIRECTOR. 
OBJECTS. 
(a.) To secure and preserve specimens illustrating the natural history of the Province. 
(b.) To collect anthropological material relating to the aboriginal races of the Province. 
(c.) To obtain information respecting the natural sciences, relating particularly to the 
natural history of the Province, and diffuse knowledge regarding the samie. 
ADMISSION. 
The Provincial Museum is open, free, to the public daily throughout the year from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. (except New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day) ; it is also open on Sunday 
afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from May Ist until the end of October. 
VISITORS. 
The actual number of visitors whose names are recorded on the register of the Museum 
is 30,568, against 21,307 in last year’s report. This does not by any means give the total number 
of visitors throughout the year, as not only have more visitors been noticed, but the attendance 
of school classes has greatly increased, while the classes from the Normal School have used the 
collections considerably in regard to making drawings in connection with their nature-studies. 
The following figures will give some idea of those who recorded their names during the months 
of: January, 1,400; February, 1,031; March, 2460; April, 1,214; May, 1,960; June, 2,940; July, 
5,751; August, 7,045; September, 2.896; October, 1,598; November, 981; December, 1,292. 
ACTIVITIES. 
During the month of March last, from the 19th to the 26th, a photographie exhibition of 
the wild life of Canada was forwarded from the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club, Ottawa, to 
the Natural History Society of British Columbia. The President of the Society made application 
to the Director of the Provincial Museum to see if space could be provided for the exhibition 
of these photographs of nature-studies, as it was thought by the Society that the Provincial 
Museum of Natural History would be the most suitable place to have these pictures shown, 
as it was in keeping with the objects of the Museum. The Director took the matter up with 
the Honourable Provincial Secretary, Dr. J. D. MacLean, M.D., and permission was granted to 
hold this exhibition on the main floor of the Museum. Arrangements were made whereby 
specimens were crowded to one side so as to give ample room for visitors. 
The exhibition was under the distinguished patronage of His Honour the Lieutenant- 
Governor and Mrs. Nichol, who spent a considerable time going over the many beautiful photo- 
graphs of birds in their native haunts. They were conducted by Mr. W. N. Keily, the resident 
of the Society, and the Director of the Museum. His Honour and Mrs. Nichol expressed their 
great appreciation of the pictures. 
During the week that this exhibition was on view over 1,000 persons came to view it. The 
Natural History Society undertook the advertising of this display in the press and also in the 
city and municipal schools. The Department was kept busy arranging times whereby the pupils 
could be accommodated to visit the exhibition without overcrowding, which was arranged 
satisfactorily. This educational exhibition of wild life was first displayed in Vietoria before 
being sent throughout Canada, and proved a great success. It is to be hoped that the Ottawa 
Field Naturalists’ Club will be able in the near future to send a similar exhibit, as it was one 
of the best series of wild-life photographs ever exhibited in Canada. 
