4406 THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1875. 
(So and so) seen’t, an’ says it’s a furriner mavies escap’d fra some 
menagery.” 
Yellowhammer.—On the 31st I saw hundreds at one of the 
farms. They did not seem to mix up with the finches, but moved 
together in flocks when disturbed. I was at the place on the 26th, 
and only saw a few mixed up as usual with the other birds. 
Rook.—I went with the shepherd to see the rooks feed amongst 
the sheep on Swede turnips: there is really nothing else for them 
to get, as they are scared from the corn stacks. Poor creatures! 
they must go to roost very tired after hammering at the hard 
turnips all day. 
So ends 1874, with two feet and a half of snow and a hard 
frost—a sorry day for the feathered tribes at least. 
JOHN SCLATER. 
Castle Eden, Durham. : 
A Word about Museums. By C. B. Carey. 
(Continued from §. 8S. 4059.) 
SIncE my last notes on museums, I have visited two more, 
which, it seems to me, are worth hearing about: one is the 
museum at Bristol, the other is the one at York. 
Bristol.—The Bristol Museum is a fine building, in which there 
is a public library, where any one may go and read, not taking the 
books away. The arrangement here seems very good; but the 
birds are classed generally —z.e. the British birds are not kept 
separate. It may perhaps be narrow-minded, but I think that the 
British birds should be kept distinct from the foreign; for after all, 
one object of the collections of birds in our museums is to show 
the habitat of each bird. This can indeed be shown by writing it 
on the label; but it is easier to see those which are British by 
having them alone. On the other hand, a general collection of 
birds is not complete without those of the British Isles; so that, 
to please all parties, it would be well to place the British birds in 
the general collection, and at the same time have one of British 
birds alone. The birds at Bristol are not in separate cases, but 
are on shelves, in cases, which jut out so that one back serves for 
two, having a face each way; these are in rows down the room, 
having a side-ligbt. The birds themselves seem in excellent 
condition; everything about them looks clean and well cared for, 
—- 
aa 
