

THE HULL MUSEUM AND EDUCATION. 213 



HULL ANTIQUITIES. 



The case of Hull antiquities is naturally a favourite one 

 with visitors, and receives a good share of attention. Within 

 it are specimens found in the city, which in themselves would 

 amply serve to illustrate a history of Kingston-upon-Hull. 

 The various coins, seals, pipes, earthenware vessels, glass 

 and iron objects call to mind the former condition of things 

 in Hull, and draw attention to the past Hull industries, 

 whilst the cannon balls of stone and iron remind us of that 

 memorable siege of Hull, when Sir John Hotham played so 

 important a part in the history, not only of Hull, but of the 

 whole country.* 



So one might go on from case to case, and find ample 

 material for writing many volumes. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Half the Museum is devoted to Natural History, and there 

 again the specimens are all placed in their proper natural 

 order, and should be examined in that order. The mammals, 

 birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, and shells are there arranged' 

 and, as in other parts of the Museum, the local element is 

 predominant. Hull is particularly fortunate in being situated 

 as it is, and has the advantage over inland towns in being 

 able to include the local marine fauna and flora in its collec- 

 tions. Thanks to the efforts of early Hull naturalists, many 

 most valuable specimens, formerly secured by the Literary 

 and Philosophical Society's Museum, are now the town's 

 property. Foremost amongst these is the skeleton of the type 

 specimen of Sibbald's Rorqual, which is 471 feet long. This 

 formerly occupied all the floor-space of the" west wing of the 

 building, but has now been suspended from the ceiling, where 

 it can be better viewed from the gallery, and has also admitted 

 of much more use being made of the floor-space. 



A perusal of the Natural History specimens is as instructive 

 educationally as is an examination of the antiquities. Space 

 does not admit of details being given, but the knowledge 

 obtained from an examination, say of the relative parts of 

 the skeletons of the Mammalia, or in the various phases in 



* These will shortly be removed to Wilberforce House, the birthplace 

 of Wilberforce, in High Street. This magnificent Elizabethan building 

 has been purchased by the Corporation, and is being transferred into a 

 museum illustrative of the History of Hull and particularly of Wilberforce 

 and his times. 



