ON THE PROVINCIAL MDSEDMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 129 



Taking the local geology as tlie fonndation, and confining to the local 

 rocks the details above referred to, the relation of these to the known 

 geology of the world requires to be very clearly represented. Specimens 

 of all the principal strata not occurring in the district must be exhibited, 

 and their absence from the district distinctly pointed out. To display a 

 typical series of the rocks of the world in one line, and those of the 

 district in a separate and parallel line, with the tablets or the labels of 

 contrasted colours, is perhaps the best arrangement ; but if space cannot 

 be spared for this, a single line with differences of colour may be adopted. 



In the geological department the arrangement must be chronological 

 and stratigraphical. Bach fossil-bearing rock must be accompanied by 

 specimens of at least some of its characteristic fossils ; in the case of local 

 rocks these should be as numerous as space will admit. 



In the natural history department a zoological arrangement will form the 

 basis and the local species the principal display, the chronological evolu- 

 tion of these species being shown by duplicate ibssils and drawings of 

 extinct forms, and their relations to the fauna of the world by foreign 

 types on a separate but pai'allel line as in the geological department. 



It seems necessary that the vertebrates should be separated from the 

 invertebrates. The immense difference in individual size and in the num- 

 bers of species compels a distinctly different method of display. 



In each of these two great branches of zoology the same fundamental 

 system must be adopted, viz., to give precedence to the local forms, 

 to treat these in full detail, giving the utmost amount of information 

 respecting them which can be satisfactorily shown within the given 

 space, and to indicate their relations to the fauna of the world, and their 

 evolution in geological periods. 



The information which can be given to the public respecting the local 

 forms of life will relate chiefly to their organic structure and their life- 

 histories. The structure of invertebrates must be chiefly shown by draw- 

 ings or models, and of vertebrates by skeletons. The life-history can be 

 illustrated by specimens of the sexes, of the young in various stages, of 

 the nests or other habitations, of the food, and of the habitats. If these, 

 while remaining in their proper place in the series, can be grouped to- 

 gether in a pictorial manner so as to be fairly true to nature, the interest 

 of the public will be greatly increased, additional instruction will be con- 

 veyed by them, and science will not suSer. But isolated groups are of 

 much less value, and the tendency to set these up in a dramatic or artistic 

 manner merely as sensational ornaments should be rigidly repressed. 



It is of the first importance that the stuffing and mounting of verte- 

 brates should be skilfully done. A large proportion of those at present 

 displayed in provincial museums are mere delusions. They do not repre- 

 sent nature. An unstufiTed skin is much more useful in every way than 

 one which is set up untruthfully. 



In the archaeological and anthropological departments the same sys- 

 tem must be carried out, but the arrangement here must be chronological. 



Starting with the earliest relics of man discovered in the district, the 

 series of examples of his work and habits should be continued even to the 

 current date, particular attention being devoted to any local peculiarities. 

 The changes which have taken place from age to age in his tools, his 

 clothing, his architecture, pottery, ornaments, coinage, weapon?, &c., as 

 illustrated by purely local specimens, will be of the utmost interest and 

 importance ; and the whole local series should be supplemented by a few 

 1888. K 



