540 MUSEUMS. 



have no doubt but that his own abilities and industry will eventually 

 crown his efforts with success. 



Upon this new principle I have prepared the large ant-bear, a land- 

 tortoise, an armadillo, a dog's head (now in the possession of the 

 Duke of Northumberland), a hedgehog, a polecat, and the nonde- 

 script. 



These specimens will be amply sufficient to prove that animals 

 with a rough coat of hair, others with a smooth one, others with a 

 shell, others with a scaly armour, others with a soft fur, and others, 

 in fine, with a skin studded over with spikes, can have their form and 

 features restored ; and that the skin, prepared after the manner 

 which 1 have described, will always retain its shape and brilliancy, 

 and be quite free from the ravages of the moth, or from any detri- 

 ment by being exposed to damp. 



Museums ought to be encouraged by every means possible. The 

 buildings themselves are, in general, an ornament to the towns in 

 which they have been built ; whilst the zoological specimens which 

 they contain, although prepared upon wrong principles, are, never- 

 theless, of great interest ; since they afford to thousands, who have 

 not the means of leaving their own country, a frequent opportunity 

 of seeing the rare and valuable productions which are found in far 

 distant parts of the globe. 



When I visit Leeds, I generally spend an hour in Calvert's 

 museum, where I never fail to be highly gratified. Mr Calvert is a 

 gun-maker of the first order. I am always lost in admiration when 

 I cast my eyes on the vast collection of treasure which this lover of 

 the arts has brought into the spacious and well-proportioned apart- 

 ment, built at his own expense, and arranged after his own plan. 

 In conversing with him on the habits of those animals which have 

 come under his own immediate notice, I perceive something so true, 

 so pertinent, and so straightforward in his observations, that I 

 always feel regret when I see by my watch it is time for me to 

 depart. 



It has been remarked by some, who have conversed with me on 

 this new process of preparing specimens for museums, that it would 

 take up too much time. I am not aware that this would be the case ; 

 for he who is solely occupied in preparing specimens would always 



