46 MODERN MUSEUMS 



upon the new method. It consists of a fine glass-covered 

 hall, and three stories of galleries, all originally intended for 

 a uniform exhibition of all the various groups of specimens 

 which had accumulated in the crowded rooms of the old 

 museum in the University. When Dr. Mobius succeeded to 

 the directorate, he conceived the bold plan of limiting the 

 public exhibition to the ground floor, and devoting the two 

 upper stories entirely to the reserve or working collections. 

 This was a step which required some courage to take, especially 

 as the two great staircases, which are the principal ornamental 

 architectural features of the building, have by it become 

 practically useless. Except, of course, for certain incon- 

 veniences always resulting from adaptation of a building to 

 purposes not originally contemplated, especially local dis- 

 junction of different series of the same groups, the result has 

 been eminently satisfactory; and if the arrangement is com- 

 pleted upon the lines laid down by the Director, as explained 

 to me on my last visit, this will be the most practical and 

 conveniently arranged museum of natural history at present 

 existing. As much attention appears to be bestowed upon 

 making the exhibited portion attractive and instructive, as on 

 making the reserve collections complete and accessible to 

 workers. In the former, the characteristics of the native 

 fauna were being specially developed. For instance, the fish 

 collection (of which the individual specimens are beautifully 

 displayed in spirit, fastened on to glass plates in flat-sided 

 jars) consists of a general representative systematic series, 

 and three special faunistic collections, one of the German 

 freshwater fishes, one of the north and east sea fishes, and 

 one of the Mediterranean fishes. One room is devoted to 

 German mammals and birds, and the recently added specimens 

 show indications of an improvement in taxidermy which 

 would have been impossible in the old days of wholesale 

 bird -stuffing. Excellently prepared anatomical specimens, 

 diagrams, explanatory labels, and maps showing geographical 

 distribution, are abundantly introduced among the dried 

 specimens of which such collections are usually composed, 

 and a commencement has been made of illustrations of habits 

 and natural surroundings. On the other hand, in marked 



