138 NATURAL SCIENCE. August, 



We are informed by Miss Hall, curator of the Whitechapel Public Museum, 

 that, in order to extend its educational value, the Commissioners are willing to open 

 the museum at any time after 9 a.m. to teachers who may desire to bring their classes 

 for practical demonstration. Two days' notice previous to the visit should be sent 

 to the curator. 



The Geological Rooms in the museum at Peel Park, Salford, which have been 

 re-arranged by Mr. H. F. Bolton, as we described in our February number, vol. viii., 

 p. 140, were opened on July i, upon which occasion an explanatory address was 

 given by Mr. Bolton. 



The ninth general Report of the Museum and Free Library of Bootle shows 

 that the use of both institutions by the public continues to extend. Mr. H. 

 Chadwick, the newly-appointed assistant-curator, has been arranging the mammals 

 with a view to instruction as well as pictorial effect. He has also prepared drawings 

 illustrating the anatomical characters of the various classes of Invertebrata. 

 During the winter nine free addresses, illustrated by the lantern, were delivered in 

 connection with the natural history objects in the museum. The attendance was 

 satisfactory, and consisted chiefly of young people. 



The palasontological collections of the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle in the Jardin 

 des Plantes are undergoing re-arrangement in a large new gallery recently erected 

 for their reception and still unfinished. This gallery is lofty and very well lighted, 

 and is in every way worthy of the important collections to be exhibited in it. In 

 the central portion will be placed the larger objects, such as the magnificent 

 skeletons of Hipparion and Mastodon from Pikermi, the skull of Steneosaicrus hebertl, 

 and many other famous specimens. Round the walls are arranged a series of cases 

 for the reception of smaller objects. These cases are entirely constructed of iron 

 and glass, and are of such a height that the whole of their contents can be easily 

 seen, a distinct improvement on the lofty cases used at the Natural History Museum, 

 London, although, on the other hand, less convenient for the study of smaller fossils 

 than the table-cases employed in the last-mentioned institution. 



The Committee of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, 

 sends us the Report for 1895, written by Dr. Schonland. It complains that the 

 buildings are by no means well adapted either for the proper exhibition of the 

 specimens or for their safe protection, while no use can be made of the collections 

 for educational purposes. Dr. Schonland has been experimenting with formalin as 

 a substitute for spirits of wine ; he prefers it because it preserves the specimens 

 better, is cheaper, and, in the weak solutions required, non-inflammable ; he only 

 fears that it may not keep in the hot climate. So far as the acquisition of specimens 

 is concerned, the museum is progressing favourably, and the number of persons 

 from all parts of South Africa seeking for information on the various subjects 

 embraced by the collections is steadily increasing. Dr. Schonland's labours are so 

 appreciated by his Committee that they have raised his title from that of Curator to 

 Director of the Museum. 



Apropos of formalin, Mr. Haly, the Director of the Colombo Museum, Ceylon, 

 states that it is as injurious to bright colours as alcohol, and therefore does not 

 supersede the gum and glycerine and carbolised oil methods at present employed. 

 This building also seems to require extension, as well as another water-hose. Lists 

 of many species of shells, Hymenoptera, moths, and Diptera contained in the 

 museum are given ; but Mr. Haly seems to be a little bit taken aback by the 

 revolutionary changes that are being made in scientific nomenclature by such works 

 as Boulenger's "Catalogue of Fish" and "The Fauna of British India," while 

 mention of " Das Tierreich " suggests to him that any further compilation of lists on 

 his part is quite useless. We do not think that Mr. Haly need be afraid that " Das 

 Tierreich " will be completed for many years to come ; at all events, if it be completed 

 as rapidly as he seems to expect, its value will not be great. 



