4 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURXAL 



lation of Egret studies is reported in the Journal for December, 1907. 

 Both the l)irds and their haunt are singularly picturesque. The nests 

 are high in the trees and look out over the waters of a swamp through 

 ragged cypress sprays and festoons of "Spanish moss." This is the 

 Egret that has been brought so near extermination by the plume-hunters. 

 It is a matter for rejoicing that there still exists this large South Caro- 

 lina rookery and, moreover, that it is within the precincts of a game 

 preserve where continued protection is assiu'ed. 



TWO NOTEWORTHY FOREIGN MUSEUMS. 



TWO P^uropean museiuns of natural history, rather small and 

 relatively recent in establishment, are nevertheless peculiarly 

 noteworthy. This is according to the impressions of ]Mr. 

 James L. Clark, of the Department of Preparation and Installation, who 

 spent the summer of 1908 abroad. The institutions in question are the 

 Musee de Tervueren, or Congo Museum, just outside of Brussels, and 

 the Senckenberg Museum at Frankfurt; and their prominence is the 

 result of methods of installation, displaying objects in direct relation to 

 their environment or to industry. 



The Musee de Tervueren is an unpretentious one-story building 

 with its two main halls devoted to the zoology and ethnology, respectively, 

 of the Congo Free State. The hall of zoology contains many rare mam- 

 mals, birds and fishes, several okapi of different ages making perhaps 

 the most strikino- exhibit. It is the hall of etlmoloo-v, however, that 

 claims emphatic admiration in Mr. Clark's opinion. The lighting is 

 from above. Each specimen is well placed and is accompanied by 

 photographs illustrating action or use. The general arrangement is in 

 alcoves, where are shown various phases of every day life. In the 

 alcoves devoted to home life, for instance, straw mats and implements 

 and utensils of the hut are arranged on the walls as a background: 

 large pieces, such as stone pestles, or models of the huts, are set on the 

 floor; while a life-sized family group is made to occupy the central space. 

 The figures of these groups are beautifully modeled and executed in 

 plaster, cleverly painted, and are clothed in the genuine wearing apparel 

 of the natives. The people are represented in action, grinding grain or 



