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REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 



Poppies, by George Gordon, is the title of the latest of the useful penny 

 handbooks issued by the Agricultural and Horticultural Association, 

 London. It is well illustrated. 



Extinct Animals of East Yorkshire, etc. Illustrated Guide to the Hull 

 Whaling Relics, etc.. Quarterly Records of Additions, September, December, 



1911 ; Hull Museums : Annual Report for 1910 ; being Hull Museums' 

 Publications, No. 81-85. 



Here is a quintette of these useful little handbooks. Alike in size, 

 shape, orderly arrangement, and in the value of their contents ; they 

 differ widely in the specific nature of those contents. Each one will appeal 

 specially to some, and all of them have something of interest to every 

 reader. Tho.se who would watch the growth of the Hull museums will 

 naturally turn to the quarterly records of additions, and to the excellent 

 report for igio. Why this latter has been so late in appearing as the 

 autumn of 191 1 is not apparent. It is really too bad to delay such a good 

 report ; not that the delay has in any way detracted from its value, but 

 becau.se the public have been deprived of the pleasure of reading it sooner. 

 The last time we had the pleasure of noticing these publications, there 

 were two museums in Mr. Sheppard's care, now there are three ; and we 

 gather that the original museum has been increased in size by the addition 

 of space formerly devoted to objects of art. These extensions have made 

 it possible for the exhibits to be arranged in a more natural manner ; the 

 removal of the fishing exhibits to the new museum in Pickering Park, 

 opened March 30th, will give to Hull the unique possession of a permanent 

 display of objects dealing soleh' with the fishing industry, using that term 

 in its widest sense. To the original local collection has been added a 

 number of valuable exhibits which have been presented by the Japanese 

 Government. 



The natural history exhibits have received many necessary additions, 

 making them more representative. From the abundance of good things, 

 it is most difficult to make a selection without appearing to do an injustice 

 to the remainder. We should like to draw attention to the addition 

 in Birds, of the Riley-Fortune collection ; Conchology, the fine Schlesch 

 collection in thirty drawers, a catalogue of which will .soon be accessible. 

 Twenty Spiders,' most of them new to Yorkshire, and the brackish-water- 

 beetle H . nndsanti. also new to the county, have been added by .Mr. 

 Stainforth. Besides these there is a splendid list of geological finds which 

 have been added to the already large display in this branch of science. 

 Mr. Sheppard is to be congratulated on the results of the year's work 

 as detailed in this report, which should be in the hands of everyone inter- 

 ested in museum management. 



Perhaps the item which deserves special mention is a paper with the 

 title ' Pastimes for Curators,' read at the Brighton Conference of Museum 

 Curators. 191 1. Written in Mr. Sheppard's characteristic style, its reading 

 will give pleasure to many besides professional museum curators. The 

 pervading .satiric humour will be generally appreciated, and it is to be 

 hoped that most of its readers will realise also the author's serious intent. 

 The following quotation is quite to the purpose of this notice of the 

 museum's publications : — ' Now as regards the value of these penny 

 pamphlets. In the first place . . . they prevent a certain gentleman 

 finding mischief for idle hands, by keeping the curator occupied. Secondh', 

 they form a running descriptive catalogue of the exhibits, which will be 

 a boon and a blessing to following curators and committees ; and we must 

 remember that our museums are to last for all time. Thirdly, they enable 

 those interested in any particular subject to have every information 

 thereon at a minimum of cost. Fourthly, as " sprats." ' \\'e sincerely 

 wish the curator may catch a shoal of mackerel. — E. G. B. 



1912 May I 



