40 Department of Zoology. 



1875-1878. a considerable advantage was gained by this change in location, 

 inasmuch' as the stuffed Mammalia were thus brought close to 

 the exhibition of skeletons in the gallery above, and the 

 exhibition-series of Birds into immediate contiguity with the 

 study-series. 



A scheme for the furniture and fittings was prepared by the 

 Keeper, and although all the movable furniture, including the 

 valuable stock of table-cases, used at Bloomsbury were available 

 for the new museum, the estimated cost of the new furniture 

 required amounted to 55,698. The details of construction had 

 now to be worked out, and as the fittings and cases had to be 

 adapted for very different collections and objects, and to 

 particular architectural features, they varied greatly in the 

 different rooms and galleries. The plans for each kind of case 

 were prepared from the Keeper's requirements by the architect 

 or the experts of the Office of Works and submitted to the 

 Trustees for their sanction. Although anxious to supply sub- 

 stantially-constructed cases and cabinets, the Office of Works 

 were also desirous of keeping the enormous expenditure at the 

 lowest possible figure. By substituting mahogany for the metal 

 recommended by Dr. Giinther in the construction of the door- 

 frames of the gallery-cases they claimed to have effected a saving 

 of 15,000. 



In connection with these preparations for the impending 

 move it should be mentioned that from 1876 Dr. Giinther urged 

 upon the Trustees the necessity of beginning the formation of a 

 Zoological Libraiy, such as would compensate the Department for 

 the loss of the use of the General Library at Bloomsbury. With 

 the assistance of some of his colleagues in the Printed Book 

 Department he estimated the cost of its formation (up to date) 

 at 40,000, and asked the Trustees to apply to the"Treasury for 

 a grant of 8000 as a first instalment. This estimate seemed to 

 act as a deterrent, for no provision was made for this service in 

 the following year, but the Trustees adopted Dr. Giinther's 

 recommendation that duplicate zoological works in the General 

 Library should be transferred to the Departmental Library. 



