292 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHAIR OF 



Mr F. E. Beddard. The late Professor D. J. Cunningham 

 has also contributed largely in skeletons and spirit-prepara- 

 tions of the higher vertebrates, and in beautifully executed 

 casts of the human brain in situ. Mr Alex. Thorns gave a 

 large series of corals, shell-manufactures, and sponges ; Mr 

 Cyril Grassland an extensive collection of corals from the 

 Red Sea ; Professor Kishinonye, Japanese pear-shells, pearls, 

 and coral ; Dr Tosh, two fine examples of Ceratodus and a 

 collection of pearl-shells and starfishes from Australia. Besides 

 those formerly presented, three thousand one hundred and 

 fifty spirit-preparations, including a cabinet illustrating the 

 development of the salmon of the Tay from the egg, were 

 handed over by the professor to the University. Lastly, 

 by exchange of rare and unique marine forms with the 

 Royal Scottish Museum, many well-mounted mammals and 

 birds have been secured, the last consignment alone in- 

 cluding more than fifty mounted mammals, ranging from 

 a huge zebu ox to mice, a South American Rhea, and a 

 large cassowary. Exchanges of a collection of the professors' 

 rare forms also brought a valuable series from the Indian 

 Museum through Dr Alcock and Dr Annandale, and from 

 the Natural History Department of Edinburgh University. 



With the exception of the foreign shells, the arrangement 

 of the Museum during this period has been changed, the 

 scattered representatives of the various groups having been 

 drawn together, and a series of printed labels presented. But 

 the present museum is quite overcrowded, and has for many 

 years been in the main a storehouse for the preservation of 

 the specimens, which are often superimposed. 



Since 1882 a botanical collection has also been formed, 

 many examples in spirit having been brought from Murthly, 

 and largely increased by Dr Wilson, and since his period by 

 Mr Robertson and other donors. Dr Cleghorn gave a 

 general herbarium, Mr D. Smith a valuable cabinet of grasses, 

 and Professor Bayley Balfour a large collection of textile 



