24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



office accommodation for the Curators and the Museum Library. 

 This hall, it is understood, will be devoted to exhibits of a special 

 nature, and at present is occupied with a number of large cases 

 containing special groups of mammals, birds, reptiles, &c. 



Passing through into the former main hall it is pleasing to 

 notice that in consequence of the removal to their new quarters 

 of the whole of the Australian mammals, birds, &c., greater space 

 has been given to the remaining exhibits on the ground floor, 

 which are thus seen to much better advantage. 



The space gained by the removal of the Australian birds from 

 the general collection has permitted of the exhibition of a large 

 number of additional foreign species which were unable to be 

 represented before owing to the want of space, while the 

 tendency to crowding before noticeable has now been avoided. 



The entrance to the new Australian Hall is gained from the 

 gallery of this hall. This is a large room, lighted from the top, 

 and measuring 113 feel x 52 feet, with a gallery running round 

 three sides. Under the gallery the wall space is occupied with 

 continuous wall cases, with larger projecting cases at intervals. 

 Here are arranged the Australian mammals and birds, which are 

 seen to very great advantage. Many interesting additions are 

 noticeable. A fine series of bird groups, showing their nests and 

 natural surroundings, has been recently added, making a very 

 attractive as well as instructive feature in this section. The 

 centre of the hall is occupied with a number of very large cases 

 of mammals and bird groups. 



In addition to the large cases of Black Swans, Native Com- 

 panions, and Lyre-birds, which have been a feature of the 

 Museum for some time past, there have been added four new 

 cases of mammals. The largest of these, which measures 

 17 feet X 12 feet x 10 feet, occupies the centre of the hall, 

 and contains an excellent group of Kangaroos amid their 

 natural surroundings of rocks and shrubs. Two other cases, each 

 about 12 feet x 6 feet, contain groups of Wallabies and Opossums 

 respectively, while in the remaining one is exhibited a group of 

 Bandicoots. The gallery will be occupied with Australian 

 invertebrates, &c. 



This arrangement of the whole of the Australian fauna in one 

 great hall has never been attempted before in any museum, and 

 the hon. Director is to be congratulated on the success of his 

 efforts, which will be greatly appreciated by everyone interested 

 in our Australian fauna. 



The galleries in the main hall are now practically complete so 

 far as their arrangement is concerned. In the north and west 

 galleries are exhibited an exceedingly fine series of Australian and 

 foreign minerals and rocks. The east gallery is confined to the 

 splendid collection of Australian fossils, recently rearranged by 



