GREENOCK PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



Summary ot IReport of Committee of /lliuseum aiiD 

 Xecture IFDall, 



For Year ending 30th December, 1889. 



Owing to the increased attendance at the Museum since the 

 charge for admission was abolished, along with the more frequent 

 use of the Lecture Hall during the last two years, a hall-keeper has 

 been appointed as assistant to the Curator. 



During the last few years the natural history department has 

 received considerable attention, and the larger part of the money 

 which the Committee had at their disposal has been devoted to the 

 purchase of British birds. In two years 202 specimens have been 

 added, and the collection is now so large that only the rarest 

 specimens are awanting. These birds are named and classified 

 according to the British Museum catalogue. In the Natural History 

 Museum, London, a very beautiful system of showing birds in their 

 natural surroundings is extensively adopted. In only one instance 

 has such been attempted in this Museum. A small square case, at a 

 corner of the gallery, contains a whin bush with meadow pipits' nest 

 occupied by a young cuckoo, which is being fed by the pipits. 



The collection of mammals in the Museum has been but little 

 increased for several years, partly for want of case room. This has 

 now been provided by the large case, just built by Mr. Rennie, 

 occupying the whole west end of the gallery. It is hoped that very 

 soon the British quadrupeds may be properly represented. Some 

 years ago Sir Michael Shaw Stewart very kindly gave a fine roe deer. 

 There is now room for the fallow deer and red deer, which could not 

 have previously been properly accommodated. 



