FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 231 
There is a skeleton of an eighty-five foot whale in a shed out- 
side of the museum proper, and they are making a cast of a ten- 
foot swordfish. The Gangetic dolphin is another strange form 
exhibited here, and a good mounted skeleton of the elephant seal 
is of much interest. 
The birds are much better specimens of taxidermist’s art than 
the mammals and do eredit to the skill of the preparator. An 
intersting group of penguins is very well executed and includes 
both young and old of Adele and Emperor besides some other 
species donated by the National Antarctic Expedition. Most of 
the mounted mammals are old and represent taxidermic methods 
now out of date. Besides they are badly faded. 
The ethnological exhibit is probably the best part of the museum 
and I saw in New Zealand none more extensive although it is 
not the largest so far as Maori things are concerned. It is well 
arranged and displayed in well lighted rooms. The oriental 
material is particularly well illustrated and reflects much credit 
on those in charge of the museum. I understand that the geologi- 
eal and mineralogical collections are especially fine. 
As this is the last of the three large museums which I visited 
in New Zealand, it may not be out of place to add a few notes 
regarding them. It should be said, however, that there are other 
museums which are reported to be of at least equal importance, 
particularly that of the Otago University at Dunedin, which I did 
not see, much to my regret. 
In my opinion the best of the three is that at Auckland, the 
only one which is a municipal affair. Great credit is certainly 
due Mr. Cheeseman, for many years the Curator, and evidently 
a man of almost infinite industry and patience. He has succeeded 
in getting together a collection of Maori art and industries which 
will probably never be duplicated, as the few remaining artists 
are fast passing away. Mr. Cheeseman very wisely devoted his 
efforts to the collecting and preservation of all things relating to 
the natives of New Zealand who lived mainly on North Island and 
there reached their highest cultural level; and so the venerable 
Curator has gathered together full series of specimens illustrating 
in a most comprehensive way a culture which is unique and full 
of human interest. I think I have never seen a better display of 
the ethnography of a strictly localized people whose history and 
achievements seem unique among the natives of the great realm 
of the South Pacific and whose art far surpasses all others de- 
