14 MUSEUMS. 
loan collections. This educational feature. which has for its 
purpose the promotion of scientific teaching throughout the City, is 
being more and more appreciated. Numerous applications, as 
reported in previous reports, continue to be made to the Director by 
educational authorities, not only in England, but in America and 
Australia for information as to the working of the system. 
In response to a suggestion made by Alderman W. B. Bowring, 
Chairman of the Special Committee for the Calderstones Estate, that 
the cases in the Entrance Hall of the house in the Calderstones Park 
might be utilised for the exhibition of duplicate specimens in the 
Museum, a collection of birds was formed, haying for its object the 
exhibition of species which occur or are likely to be found frequent- 
ing the surrounding park. This was placed in position in August, 
and it should prove of assistance to visitors in identifying the birds 
they may observe in their visits to this beautiful recreation ground. 
In the Local Area Gallery, substantial progress has been made 
during the past year, with its re-arrangement and in the mounting 
of specimens of the Local Fauna. The following bird-groups have 
been added to the exhibited series during the year :—The Sheldrake 
Tern, Moor-hen, Teal, Merganser, Long-eared Owl, Eider Duck, 
Puffin, Grey Lag Goose, Plover and Dunlin, Kingfisher and Sand 
Martin, Game, Grouse, Sandpiper and Redshank, Black-throated 
Diver, Red-throated Diver, Wagtail and Dipper, Heron, Mallard, 
Shag or Green Cormorant, Grebe and Water-Rail, and Coot and 
three cases containing specimens of Birds, which occur or have been 
recorded from, but do not breed in the Local Area. The cases 
containing the Pheasant, Partridge, and Black Game have 
specially attracted the attention of visitors. The collection of 
British Birds’ Eggs arranged and placed in the open gallery, in a 
cabinet with glazed and “ stopped” drawers, so as to be easily and 
conveniently consulted by visitors at all times, without application 
to the Staff, has been largely consulted during the year, especially 
by those studying and collecting Birds’ Eggs. 
The preparation of satisfactory examples of the local fishes, 
reptiles and amphibians, and the suitable mounting of them for 
