PEEFACE. 



The Liverpool Museum was the first institution of its kind in Great 

 Britain, if not in the world, to place on exhibition a case showing a 

 species of Bird mounted with a representation of its habitat. This 

 was in the year 1865, and the group, that of the Bald Coot, was exhibited 

 at the British Association Meeting held in Birmingham, the same year. 

 It is still in existence and because of its historical interest is placed on 

 exhibition. 



Considerable advances in technical detail have been made since then, 

 and the collection now possesses a large number of highly educational 

 and artistic groups mounted on this principle, the work on which has 

 all been done in the Museum. The Committee has been fortunate in 

 possessing on the staff an artist in taxidermy, the present Head 

 Taxidermist and Assistant in Vertebrate Zoology, Mr. J. W. Cutmore, 

 and I have pleasure in acknowledging his skill in this work. 



This little booklet is on the lines of the British Museum Guide, from 

 which much useful help has been received. 



I hope that this " Guide and Handbook," will serve not only as a 

 useful companion to the visitor while in the Museum Gallery, but also 

 as an instructive and interesting handbook for future reference. 



JOSEPH A. CLUBB, 



Curator of Museums. 



Free Public Museums, 



Liverpool, January, 1914. 



