3976 The Zoologist — May, 1874. 



represented as seizing sheep, antelopes, deer, elks, bisons, &c. 

 Of course the attitudes are imaginary, since the taxidermist could 

 not have witnessed the scenes he represents, yet they appear by no 

 means constrained, unnatural, or even improbable. They seem 

 without exception to have been grouped with the view of diffusing 

 correct information, and, without being rigidly truthful, convey the 

 artist's idea of what he supposes the truth. I think it will be at 

 ouce admitted that the design is laudable and well worthy the 

 support of all lovers of Natural History. 



I would venture to suggest that in the course of a very few 

 years, when the Colleclion must require dusting and cleansing, and 

 when additional specimens may be acquired, and needs must be 

 incorporated, a re-arrangcracnt should be made, and something 

 like a scientific system should be adopted. Cuvier's ' Regne 

 Animal' should be taken as a guide, the specimens grouped in 

 families in accordance with their natural aflSnities, and a brief 

 definition — say ten or twelve lines — be devoted in the Catalogue 

 to the essential characters of each family. A slight difficulty, a very 

 slight one, may present itself to some in the fact that two very 

 different animals frequently occur in the same group, and therefore 

 a continuous series could not include them both ; for instance, the 

 first group of all, A 1, consists of two lynxes and a sheep : in all 

 such cases it will be found sufficient to number the principal 

 objects, the lynxes, and to leave the secondary object, the sheep, 

 unnamed. 



It is most desirable to associate words with objects; indeed, 



as it seems to nie, this ouglit to be the prominent feature of 



juvenile education. I have no objection to a long technical 



description of a lion ; his mane, tail, teeth and claws may be 



defined with precision for the instruction of the embryo man 



of science, but the child, the school-boy, the mechanic, learns 



more, and more quickly, from a glance at the object itself than 



from all the descriptions in the world ; and, what is still more to the 



purpose, the memory clings with more pertinacity^ to an object than 



to a description : there is also far greater facility in connecting a 



name with an object than with a description. I therefore heartily 



commend the Collection to the notice of parents, teachers, and all 



who desire to infuse a love of Natural History into the minds of 



those under their care. t? x^ 



Edward Newman. 



