I COLLECTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND FOR STUDY 21 



all the collections, especially those containing specimens already 

 alluded to as so dear to the systematic naturalist, known as 

 author's " types," required for original investigations. It is far 

 more advantageous to the investigator to go to such a collection 

 and take up his temporary abode there, while his research is 

 being carried out, with all the material required at his hand at 

 once, than to travel from place to place and pick up piecemeal 

 the information he requires, without opportunity of direct com- 

 parison of specimens. 



I do not say that collections for special study, and even 

 original research, should not, under particular circumstances 

 and limitations, be formed at museums other than central 

 national institutions, or that nothing should be retained in 

 provincial museums but what is of a directly educational or 

 elementary nature. A local collection, illustrating the fauna 

 and flora of the district, should be part of every such museum ; 

 and this may be carried to almost any amount of detail, and 

 therefore in many cases it would be very unadvisable to exhibit 

 the whole of it. A selection of the most important objects 

 may be shown under the conditions described above, and the 

 remainder carefully preserved in cabinets for the study of 

 specialists. 



It is also very desirable in all museums, in order that the 

 exhibited series should be as little disturbed as possible in 

 arrangement, and be always available for the purpose for 

 which it is intended, that there should be, for the use of 

 teachers and students, a supplementary set of common objects, 

 which, if injured, could be easily replaced. It must not be 

 forgotten that the zealous investigator and the conscientious 

 curator are often the direst antagonists : the one endeavours to 

 get all the knowledge he can out of a specimen, regardless of 

 its ultimate fate, and even if his own eyes alone have the 

 advantage of it ; the other is content if a limited portion only 

 is seen, provided that can be seen by every one both now and 

 hereafter. 



Such, then, is the primary principle which ought to under- 

 lie the arrangement of all museums the distinct separation of 

 the two objects for which collections are made ; the publicly 

 exhibited collection being never a store-room or magazine, but 



