230 



Report of a Journey Around tJic World. 



In general botany the exhibits 

 are greatly improving as seen 

 by the methods used in exhibit- 

 ing trees and their products 

 (Fig. 176); the glass prepara- 

 tions of fruit and flowers (Fig. 

 177). Some of the latter leave 

 little to be desired in scientific 

 and permanent preparations : 

 a specimen of Agaricus rising 

 through grass strongly im- 

 pressed our Director. The 

 superb collection of glass flow- 

 ers in the Agassiz Museum at 

 Cambridge does not surpass this 

 work. 



The "dry aquaria" did not 

 make so good an impression, 

 but the bird groups (Fig. 178) 

 are of the best quaility. As 

 was to be expected, the Poly- 

 nesian exhibit was small, but 

 even there were some choice 

 specimens, for example, the fine 

 ceremonial paddle from Man- 

 gaia, of a pattern seen only 

 once elsewhere, and shown in 

 Fig. 179. 



After our experience with the 

 steel cases of the new instal- 

 ments in European museums we 

 were rather inclined to criticise 

 the use of wood in the cases for 

 the new building, but it must 

 be admitted that if wood is to 

 be used, it is well used here. 

 The neatness also of the labels is 

 noteworthy, and that in a muse- 

 um which must always be edu- 

 cational is of great importance. 

 [378] 



