14 



is that whilst a much larger series of mollusca are 

 exhibited than is usual in a provincial museum, the 

 reserve collections include representatives of more than 

 a thousand genera, over 2,000 species, and between 20 

 and 30,000 specimens. All these are in first-class order, 

 and now occupy 52 drawers and 34 boxes. Every genus 

 and species is readily accessible, and the whole is 

 arranged according to the classification of the Cambridge 

 Natural History. The duplicate series occupies eighteen 

 large boxes, includes over 700 genera, 2,300 species and 

 about 50,000 specimens. All the drawers below the 

 mollusca wall-cases have been filled with the reserve 

 collection, which has also overflowed this provision, into 

 the 34 large packing cases already mentioned. The value 

 of this by no means light task, is considerable, and as 

 fast as opportunity offers, all other groups will be dealt 

 with in the same way, until the whole contents of the 

 Museum have been brought into line, and made available 

 for special examination, study and research. The work 

 has been of a character which does not show itself in 

 the exhibition cases of the Museum, or to visitors, but 

 nevertheless increases considerably the usefulness of the 

 Museum to serious students and enquirers. 



Fully half of the old bleached series of dried speci- 

 mens of Crustacea, have been replaced by fresh material 

 specially treated, and coloured as in life. It is believed 

 that the new specimens will retain their natural appear- 

 ance permanently. The specimens are mounted upon 

 beach sand, and show a great improvement over the old 

 series which they replace. Fine examples of the 

 Common Octopus (Polypus vulgaris) and Loligo vulgaris 

 modelled from life, have been set up in a special floor- 

 case, amidst natural surroundings, the latter copied from 

 a rock pool on the Jersey coast. 



