350 Minerals. 



space available for the exhibition of specimens belonging to the 

 systematic collection being one-fourth larger than before. 



Afterwards, Mr. Fletcher conceived the idea of providing 

 both the ordinary visitor and the scientific student with the 

 means of acquiring a systematic knowledge of the contents of 

 the Mineral Gallery. With this end in view, he selected, in the 

 first place, a series of specimens to serve as an introduction to 

 the study of Meteorites, and prepared a corresponding guide-book 

 (1881).* This introduction having been found of great service 

 to the public, he continued the work, and by 1884 and 1895, 

 similar series of specimens elaborately labelled, and similar 

 guide-books, constituting introductions to the study of Minerals 

 and Rocks respectively, were completed f ; these specimens are 

 arranged in the ten window-cases provided in the year 1883 for 

 the northern side of the Gallery. 



When the Collection was at Bloomsbury, all the labels were 

 hand-written, and mostly of a temporary character ; in the 

 course of the re-arrangement at South Kensington printed labels 

 have been designed and furnished for all parts of the collec- 

 tion, namely species-labels, locality-labels, pseudomorph-labels, 

 and labels for the large specimens and introductory series. There 

 are now nearly 17,000 printed labels exhibited in the Gallery. 



All the vertical glazed fronts of the table-cases, formerly 

 fixed, were in 1881 made removable, and the ends of the cases 

 have been provided with new fittings. 



Fittings have likewise been made for the wall-cases, which 

 have themselves been provided since 1880, and specimens have 

 been selected and mounted for exhibition therein. One of the 

 wall-cases now contains a beautiful series of polished slabs of 

 Ornamental Stones ; most of the others contain large specimens 

 of minerals and rocks, specially selected and mounted. 



At Bloomsbury no space was available for the exhibition of 

 rock-specimens; an elaborately labelled series of typical rock- 

 specimens has now been arranged in the eleven window-cases 

 on the southern side of the Gallery. 



The Pseudomorphs, at one time arranged in six of these cases, 

 have been transferred to three additional table-cases provided for 



* Introduction to the Study of Meteorites, with a List of the Meteorites 

 represented in the Collection. &d. 



t Introduction to the Study of Minerals, with a Guide to the Mineral 

 Gallery. &d. 



Introduction to the Study of Bocks. 6d. 



