I. INTRODUCTION. 7 



large halls on the ground floor, with extensions from the terminal 

 halls at each end ; and on the upper floor, which is reached by a 

 broad handsome staircase, of the same number of halls without 

 any extension. 



The collections are arranged to the best advantage in these halls, 

 but it is not possible in the unfinished state of the building to 

 have a thoroughly complete or systematic arrangement. The 

 exhibits, which in 1837 numbered about 800, may now be counted 

 by hundreds of thousands, and require for their display far more 

 space than is at the disposal of the Trustees. In some classes 

 only a temporary arrangement has been attempted, and allied 

 specimens, for want of room in the cases,, are occasionally found 

 in diflerent parts of the building, so that the visitor is requested 

 to be forbearing until with more accommodation a proper ar- 

 rangement can be made. 



This Guide is intended to help visitors in their examination of 

 the Museum. For the ordinary visitor, who comes from curiosity 

 or for amusement, the chapter ' ' General Arrangement of the 

 Museum," with the help of the plan, will probably be sufficient ; 

 for those who wish to study, so as to gain at least an elementary 

 knowledge of the animal and mineral kingdoms, the succeeding 

 chapters have been prepared somewhat on the lines of a hand 

 book ; while, for students of special subjects, separate and very 

 complete catalogues have been ^orepared by order of the Trustees. 

 A list of these as far as published, will be found appended to 

 this Guide. 



