Xll. INTRODUCTION, 



and distorted growths, healed fractures, coral beads, British 

 and exotic specimens of fungi growing on pupsB, and many 

 other objects of interest. 



8th. Species and varieties. The blocks on which some 

 of the table cases rest are fitted with drawers suitable for 

 receiving an extended series of species and varieties, valuable 

 only to the student, and intended to be seen only on applica- 

 tion to the Curator. Very little progress has hitherto been 

 made in carrying out this portion of the plan, which has, 

 however, the good effect of rendering it quite needless to over- 

 crowd the groups with less significant species. 



The difficulties attending the formation of the series have 

 not been very great. Collections have been presented to the 

 Museum by several friends of natural science, amongst whom 

 may be mentioned Mr. Samuel Smith, of Liverpool, the 

 donor of a collection of shells rich in generic forms and in 

 costly varieties of the highest beauty. Mr. Moore has been 

 successful in establishing friendly communications with many 

 captains of merchant vessels sailing from the port of Liver- 

 pool, some of whom have been supplied by the Committee of 

 the Museum with dredges and collecting apparatus, and have 

 become enthusiastic naturalists. In recognition of their ser- 

 vices, several of them have been received as Associate Members 

 of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, a 

 distinction which seems to be highly appreciated by them. 

 Something has also been done in the way of exchanges ; but 

 a large proportion of the whole series has been selected and 

 purchased specimen by specimen. No object has been pur- 

 chased simply on account of its rarity; but at the same time 

 no reasonable expense has been spared in procuring the most 

 beautiful and perfect examples. 



A few general remarks on the subject of expense may be 

 permitted ; details will gladly be communicated to enquirers 



