PAPERS PRESENTED AT GENERAL SESSIONS 111 



toads, and butterflies add to the naturalness of the ex- 

 hibit. This group, including case and all accessories, cost 

 but $400.00. 



The modern study of natural history, now called ecolo- 

 gy, may be aided very materially by these museum groups 

 which visualize the life of different kinds of animal habi- 

 tats, the natural homes of different species. Thus we 

 may see the polar bear and musk ox of the Arctic, the 

 deer and elk of temperate climes, and the gaudy birds of 

 the tropics, all examples of the effect of climate on ani- 

 mal life. Pond life may be distinguished from river life, 

 prairie life from forest life ; all these may be sho^Ti in a 

 museum group, sui^Dassed only by the living animal in its 

 real home. Often, two or more habitats may be shown 

 in the same group for comparison, as a swampy quiet 

 pond behind a beach barrier, the animals of the quiet 

 pond being contrasted strongly with the animals of the 

 rougher water habitat of an exposed lake shore. 



In the teaching of economic entomology, the museum is 

 again a valuable aid. In small groups, insects injurious 

 to certain plants may be shown in their natural habitat on 

 the plant as they would be seen when at work doing the 

 injury, and the transformations may be shown so that 

 the farmer or student may recognize the stage when the 

 insect is most injurious. Such subjects as com insects, 

 grain insects, insects of the apple, pear, grape, garden 

 insects, and many others may be shown as when li\dng. 

 These exhibits are far superior to the ancient custom of 

 pinning the specimens in a glass covered tray, for the 

 psychology- of the group idea makes the insects seem 

 more real. 



And in botany, exhibits are possible that will be an aid 

 in the teaching of some branch of the subject. Forestry, 

 extinct plants, evolution and descent of certain types, 

 these and other subjects may be treated in museum ex- 

 hibits. 



These examples might be amplified indefinitely, but 

 enough have been given to show that the museum is a po- 

 tent agency in modern education, a fact that is, perhaps, 

 not fully realized by educators in general. The museum 



