Enlargement of the Museum. 81 



STUDENTS. 

 (1890.) 



The number of students consulting the collection reached a 1891 

 higher figure than in any previous year, their visits being 

 recorded as 9034. 



1891-92. 



The Trustees made a direct appeal to the Treasury, repre- 

 senting the urgent necessity for enlarging the Spirit Building, 

 which was successful. The work was taken in hand without 

 further delay. 



Help had hardly been secured in one direction when difficulties 

 arose in another, showing that the original demands of Professor 

 Owen and Dr. Gray, which by many persons were pronounced 

 to be extravagant, were, in fact, no more than the Zoological 

 Department required, and that, as far as the main building 

 was concerned, sufficient allowance had not been made for its 

 immediate requirements, much less for its expansion. At 

 Bloomsbury the Cetaceans had been stowed away in holes and 

 corners, and the largest specimen was kept in reserve at the 

 former owner's place, until room could be found for it in the 

 new Museum. Soon after the large ill-lit space in the basement 

 had been fitted up for the temporary reception of these specimens, 

 it was completely filled, although the collection was very far 

 from being completely representative. In 1891 the rare oppor- 

 tunity occurred of acquiring three large skeletons of Whales, 

 while negotiations were in progress for the acquisition of a 

 fourth, viz., that of the Greenland Right Whale. The 

 Keeper, therefore, proposed to the Trustees to apply to the 

 Treasury for sanction to erect at the back of the Museum an 

 iron shed of a similar construction to those in use at the Science 

 and Art Museum, the dimensions being 86 ft. long, 20 ft. broad, 

 1 2 ft. high (not counting the roof), which would serve as a supple- 

 mentary exhibition room. The Trustees, in their application to 

 the Treasury, modified the Keeper's proposal at the Director's 

 suggestion, by asking for a shed of more than double the size, 

 viz., of 100 ft. by 45 ft. The application was declined by the 

 Treasury. 



