i5 



IReport of tbe Curator of tbe Natural 

 Ibistorp flDuseum. 



REVIEW OF THE YEAR. 



The generous gift of ^2,000 by Lady Smyth, of 

 Ashton Court, referred to in the last report of the 

 Committee, enabled the old library hall to be re- 

 modelled. The roofs of both that and the adjoining 

 room were re-slated, and fitted with four ventilators, the 

 old wooden louvres being removed and their place 

 occupied by glass, the improved lighting of the interior 

 being very marked. A new doorway was made giving 

 access to the Greville Smyth Room from the main 

 floor room of the Museum, the new doorway being of 

 American walnut, and the door constructed with plate 

 glass panels, the whole designed to agree with the 

 doorway which gives access to the Museum. 



The balcony is reached by an imposing staircase 

 branching from the first flight to each side of the 

 gallery. An alcove on the landing contains the bust 

 of the late Sir Greville Smyth, by Aridieoni. The 

 balustrade of the staircase is continued round the 

 gallery, and carries a series of desk cases projecting 

 into the room and supported at each newel by finely 

 moulded and shaped trusses. A new ventilating system 

 was put in through the whole floor of the Museum, 

 and in the floor of the gallery. The shaft openings in 

 the latter being concealed by metal hand-wrought 

 grilles finished in oxidised silver. 



The new cases occupying the room are of 

 mahogany, french-polished, and glazed with the best 

 quality of English plate glass. 



