196 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. X 



For very large specimens e.g. a whale the case could 

 expand into the curators' part without encroaching on the 

 public part, so as to keep the line of windows regular. 



Specimens of the Vertebrata, illustrations of Physical 

 Geography and Stratigraphical Geology, should be placed 

 below. 



The Invertebrata, Botanical and Mineralogical speci- 

 mens in the galleries. 



The partition to be continued above the galleries to 

 the roof, thus excluding all the dust raised by the public. 



Space for students should be provided in the curators' 

 rooms. 



Storage should be ample. 



A museum of this size gives twice as much area for 

 exhibition purposes as that offered by all the cases in the 

 present museum. 



ATHEN.EUM CLUB, Dec. 8, 1872. 



DEAR SIR I regret that your letter has but just 

 come into my hands, so that my reply cannot be in time 

 for your meeting, which, I understand you to say, was to 

 be held yesterday. 



I have no hesitation whatever in expressing the 

 opinion that, except in the case of large and wealthy 

 towns (and even in their case primarily), a Local Museum 

 should be exactly what its name implies, viz. " Local " 

 illustrating local Geology, local Botany, local Zoology, and 

 local Archaeology. 



Such a museum, if residents who are interested in 

 these sciences take proper pains, may be brought to a 

 great degree of perfection and be unique of its kind. It 

 will tell both natives and strangers exactly what they 

 want to know, and possess great scientific interest and 

 importance. Whereas the ordinary lumber-room of clubs 

 from New Zealand, Hindoo idols, sharks' teeth, mangy 

 monkeys, scorpions, and conch shells who shall describe 



