COLONIAL MUSEUM. 69 



respect to other animals, reptiles, and insects, 

 arranged each under the separate families and 

 genera, so as, in a comparatively short period of 

 time, to form as valuable a collection of Australian 

 natural productions as has ever been collected 

 in any part of the world. Native weapons, 

 utensils, and other specimens of the arts, as ex- 

 isting among the Aborigines, as well as the 

 skulls of the different tribes, and accurate draw- 

 ings of their peculiar cast of features, would be 

 a desirable addition. At the present time, such 

 might be procured without much difficulty ; but 

 it is equally certain, as well as much to be re- 

 gretted, that the tribes in the settled parts of the 

 colony are fast decreasing, and many, if not all, 

 will, at no distant period, be known but by 

 name. Here, in a public museum, the remains 

 of the arts, &c. as existing among them, may be 

 preserved as lasting memorials of the former 

 races inhabiting the lands, when they had ceas«d 

 to exist. 



The botanical productions of the colony may 

 also be kept in a dried state for reference, together 

 Avith specimens of the woods in different, stages of 

 growth. Peculiarities in the economy of any. of 

 the animals might be preserved as wet prepara- 

 tions, and to the whole collection, systematically 

 arranged, as well as the scientific, (or hard names. 



