4 
_ taken out, examined, carefully cleaned, and returned to 
the cases. The windows of the rooms, the approaches to 
which were awkwardly blocked up with cases, were relieved 
of their obstructions, the specimens which were in these 
cases, being transported to their proper places in the series 
to which they respectively belonged. 
But the most important ¢hange which has been made in 
this department, is the separation of the British from the 
Exotic species. In nearly all the extensive Natural 
History Museums in Europe the native species are now 
fostered as a distinct collection. Such has lately been 
the case in our National Museum, and whereas the 
observer had before this change to seek laboriously through 
thousands of birds, from every clime, for the isolated 
specimens which had formed the collection of some 
celebrated Naturalist,—as for instance that of Colonel 
Montague,—he may now see them all placed side by side 
in the gallery devoted to British Zoology. And with them 
he may also see ranged the gems from the collection of the 
late Mr. Yarrell. The advantage of such an arrangement 
is obvious. . 
When the Archeological Institute held its meeting 
at Warwick, the Bishop of Oxford, a good Ornithologist, 
and the possessor of a collection of the birds of the 
eastern Counties of England, paid a visit to our museum, 
and was much pleased to see the British Birds placed 
by themselves. He observed, with great truth, ‘‘you 
cannot vie with the larger Museums in a general 
collection, but you may eacel them if you confine your- 
selves to a purely local collection.”” Fully agreeing with 
