290 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHAIR OF 



other forms, the nomenclature and arrangement of the 

 several authorities were adopted chiefly through the interest 

 of Miss E. C. Ott6. The mammals especially were very few. 

 The management of the museum was in the hands of a joint 

 committee of the Literary and Philosophical Society and 

 the University, each paying half of the expenses of its main- 

 tenance, whilst the Government supplied the cases, on the 

 understanding that the public were to have the privilege of 

 access. The students, however, had no access to the museum, 

 unless in charge of the professor, and the public paid a fee to 

 the janitor who took visitors round. Previous to 1875, a 

 noteworthy addition to the collection was made by Professor 

 Macdonald, especially in specimens illustrating the com- 

 parative anatomy of vertebrates, and in a fine series of 

 minerals and geological specimens. Principal Forbes like- 

 wise gave a large cabinet of minerals, gems, and fossils. The 

 full advantage for teaching purposes, however, was not 

 obtained till 1882. Since that date it has been largely 

 utilised. At first students were only admitted by ticket 

 with the sanction of the Senate and the Literary and Philo- 

 sophical Society, but gradually free access was accorded to 

 every student of the University. 



In November 1882, comparatively few spirit-preparations 

 existed in the museum, and these were for the most part of 

 snakes. Active steps, however, were taken in 1883 to secure 

 for the University a large series of spirit-preparations and dry 

 specimens (stuffed and mounted) from the Fisheries' Exhibi- 

 tion in London. These chiefly consisted of fishes and inverte- 

 brates from India, Australia, South America, etc., though a 

 large crocodile, a Galeocerdo (shark), and various piscatorial 

 birds were included. Hundreds of valuable specimens were 

 thus secured without cost, and the assistance of Dr Edward 

 Pierson Ramsay, a relative of the late Mr Berry's law-agent 

 in Australia, and Dr F. Day, who had charge of the Indian 

 series, should be gratefully remembered. In 1884 the majority 



