i68 NATURAL SCIENCE. March, 



be enriched by the acquisition of type-specimens, of rarities and of bird 

 skins from all parts of the world ; we do not even grudge the spending 

 of thousands of pounds on illustrated catalogues of these same skins: 

 but surely a Museum that can afford to spend many pounds on a single 

 specimen ot^a white rhinoceros, might set aside a few shillings for the 

 purchase of skeletons of our common British birds. It is all very well 

 to say that money must rather be spent on rare specimens such as are 

 not to be had every day, that the common things will wait and that 

 people can see them elsewhere if they take the trouble. It should be 

 remembered that for one person who wants to study the rare thing, 

 there are a dozen who want to study the common thing, that these 

 things, common enough now, are rapidly becoming rarities themselves, 

 and that the complaints here quoted are clear evidence of a difficulty 

 actually experienced, not by amateurs, not by private students, not 

 by tyros ignorant of the proper places to go to, but by experienced 

 scientific men themselves in the employ of the State. 



It is not for us to enquire who is right or who is wrong; we would 

 merely point out that scientific investigations of the deepest interest, 

 and of importance, even to museums, are constantly hampered by 

 these lamentable deficiencies which might so easily be remedied. We 

 commend the subject to that energetic body the Museums' Association, 

 and especially to its President, Sir William Flower. 



The Modern Museum. 



We are pleased to learn from its report, that the Association just 

 mentioned is in a very satisfactory state of life and growth. The 

 number of museums officially connected with the Association has 

 risen from 35 to 40, while the number of unofficial associates has 

 risen from 28 to 63. This sudden increase was due partly to the last 

 meeting having been held in London, and is therefore not likely to be 

 permanent. It is more worthy of note that many colonial museums 

 and curators are now to be found on the list. As yet there is only 

 one foreigner. Dr. A. B. Meyer of Dresden ; but we see no reason 

 why this Association should not become in time the recognised centre 

 of museum workers all over the world. Local branches and 

 committees would of course be necessary ; but if there were a single 

 publication and a supreme council to assist in questions of exchange, 

 the employment of specialists, the distribution of labels and the like, 

 we cannot doubt that great advantage would accrue, not only to 

 museums, but to the arts and sciences illustrated by them. 



The report opens with the very interesting address delivered by 

 the President, on Modern Museums. This is chiefly devoted to an 

 examination of the changes rendered necessary in the construction 

 and planning of museums by the altered ideas as to the functions of 

 a museum that have come so much to the front of late years. These 

 functions are two, as expressed by Dr. J. E. Gray at' the British 

 Association in 1864, — " first, the diffusion of instruction and rational 



