16 EEPOBT— 1889. 



What is, or stould be, the order of events in arranging a portion of a 

 public museum ? Not, certainly, as too often happens now, bringing a 

 number of specimens iogether almost by haphazard, and cramming them 

 as closely as possible in a case far too small to hold them, and with little 

 reference to their order or to the possibility of their being distinctly seen. 

 First, as I said before, you must have your curator. He must carefully 

 consider the object of the museum, the class and capacities of the persons 

 for whose instruction it is founded, and the space available to carry out 

 this object. He will then divide the subject to be illustrated into groups, 

 and consider their relative proportions, according to which he will plan 

 out the space. Large labels will next be prepared for the principal head- 

 ings, as the chapters of a book, and smaller ones for the various subdivi- 

 sions. Certain propositions to be illustrated, either in the structure, classi- 

 fication, geographical distribution, geological position, habits, or evolu- 

 tion of the subjects dealt with, will be laid down and reduced to definite 

 and concise language. Lastly will come the illustrative specimens, each 

 of which as procured and prepared will fall into its appropriate place. 

 As it is not always easy to obtain these at the time that they are wanted, 

 gaps will often have to be left, but these, if properly utilised by drawings 

 or labels, may be made nearly as useful as if occupied by the actual 

 specimens. 



A public exhibition which is intended to be instructive and interest- 

 ing must never be crowded. There is, indeed, no reason why it ever should 

 be. Every such exhibition, whether on a large or small scale, can only 

 contain a representative series of specimens, selected with a view to the 

 needs of the particular class of persons who are likely to visit the gallery, 

 and the number of specimens exhibited should be adapted to the space 

 available. There is, therefore, rarely any excuse for filling it up in such a 

 manner as to interfere with the full view of every specimen shown. A 

 crowded gallery, except in some very exceptional circumstances, at once 

 condemns the curator, as the remedy is generally in his own hands. In 

 order to avoid it he has nothing to do but sternly to eliminate all the less 

 important specimens. If any of these possess features of historical or 

 scientific interest demanding their permanent preservation, they .should 

 be kept in the reserve collections ; if otherwise, they should not be kept 

 at all. 



The ideal public museums of the future will, however, require far 

 more exhibition space than has hitherto been allowed; for though the 

 number of specimens shown may be fewer than is often thought necessary 

 now, each will require more room if the conditions above described are 

 carried out, and especially if it is thought desirable to show it in such a 

 manner as to enable the visitor to realise something of the wonderful 

 complexity of the adaptations which bring each species into harmonious 

 relation with its surrounding conditions. Artistic reproductions of natural 

 environments, illustrations of protective resemblances, or of special modes 



