404 Museum Conference at Chester. 



in sequence, and subsequently j^ave a resume of the zoological 

 series, with a brief reference to the botanical collections. In 

 doing so he pointed out how representative they were of the 

 Cheshire and North Wales species, and he paid a tribute to the 

 many years of arduous collecting by their various contributors. 

 It was pointed out that the natural history collection had been 

 found to be of very great interest to the students in the Science 

 and Art Schools. 



Mr. Joseph A. Clubb, B.Sc, of the Municipal Museum, 

 Liverpool, submitted a paper on ' The Comparative Method 

 of Exhibiting Specimens in Public Museums.' The importance 

 ot museums as educational institutions was pointed out, and 

 he dwelt on the necessity of exhibiting specimens so that they 

 might impart the greatest amount of interest and instruction. 

 What was wanted, especially in the exhibition of natural 

 history specimens, was a method of arrangement which kindled 

 that light of enquiry which begat a higher and more intelligent 

 interest. Too much importance, he argued, was given to what 

 was known as the scientific or classificatory arrangement of 

 natural history specimens in public museums. 



Mr. J. W. Cutmore, of Liverpool, afterwards spoke on 

 * Museum Taxidermy and the Status of the Taxidermist.' 

 The lecturer discussed the methods for preparing natural 

 history objects, and outlined the latest methods in the casting 

 of fishes and reptiles, which were the only scientific methods 

 tor reproducing these in anything like life form. He also 

 dealt with the collecting and preparing of foliage and plants 

 tor mounting in groups with birds and their nests, summing 

 up by slating that methods were all very well as far as they 

 went, but it was the man with enthusiasm that was needed, 

 the man who loved his work and took every opportunity to 

 study Nature, who made the skilled artist. He agreed that 

 until taxidermists were treated on the same level as other 

 artistic and scientific workers there would not be the im- 

 provement in the work that was required. He concluded by 

 suggesting the formation of a Society of British Taxidermists, 

 which he argued could do much to advance the art of taxidermy. 



On the proposition of Dr. Hoyle (Manchester), seconded by 

 Alderman Brooks (Bolton) a hearty vote of thanks was accorded 

 to the Officers and Committee of the Natural Science Society 

 for their kindness in entertaining the members of the confer- 

 ence. Mr. Chas. Madeley, Curator of the Warrington Museum, 

 was appointed secretary to the Conference. 



Naturalist, 



