Foreword. 11 
The method to be adopted in order to secure the most beneficial realisation 
of this policy is a matter on which opinions may differ and as to which sugges- 
tions and discussion are invited by Timehri and by the Society. A Sub- 
Committee is now investigating the deficiencies of the Museum with a view to 
ascertaining the approximate cost of bringing it thoroughly up to date in all 
departments in accordance with modern ideas of museum display and manage- 
ment. We recognize that wealthier communities have made our present 
methods somewhat antiquated by comparison. Something has already 
been done to make the educational side more prominent. Last session 
Mr. Rodway delivered a number of lectures to the Boy Scouts. A large 
case to illustrate the rubber and balata industries is in course of erection, 
which may be useful to the capitalist and to the labourer if properly carried 
out. The specimens of the hoazin or Canje pheasant, recently brought in 
by an expedition of the Society, are about to be prepared for exhibition in 
admiring imitation (alas, longo intervallo) of the method which the magnificent 
American Museum of Natural History has adopted in dealing with the birds 
within thirty miles of New York. (The birds are shown in their habitat, with 
nest, young and eggs and with the whole environment artistically reproduced, 
a clear, complete and interesting description accompanying each specimen.) 
Complete sets of hoazin are also being prepared for the leading Museums 
elsewhere by way of reciprocity and to encourage an intercst in the study of 
the colony. A series of juvenile lectures on the Geography and History 
of the colony will be delivered this session by the Honorary Curator, 
the utility of which it is to be hoped the Department of Education 
will sufficiently recognise, so that the Society may obtain its co- 
operation. An educational sub-committee has been elready formed, but 
so far it has hardly risen to the height of the great argument and 
has suffered from lack of initiative. Mr. Inspector Sconce, his assistants 
and teachers have here a great opportunity which is available elsewhere only in 
the great self-governing colonies. We trust that under the more favourable 
conditions we hope to create they will appreciate it to the full. His 
published utterances make it perfectly clear that His Excellency realizes the 
importance to a community of the study of its own geography. 
Last year the request for an additional $500 was postponed by the Govern- 
ment on the ground that the time was inopportune for placing the proposal 
before the Combined Court. The time for asking for an increase of any vote in 
British Guiana has been inopportune for many years, but we hope for better 
things and for the recognition by the Government that educational and scien- 
tific expenditure of this kind is essentially reproductive. We claim that with the 
other research work the study of the insect pests revealed by the cases on this 
subject prepared by Messrs. Rodway and Moore justify in the fullest manner 
the inadequate grant now devoted to the general upkeep of the Museum. But 
the Society is quite conscious of falling short of its own ideals and is anxious 
to secure the co-operation of all who have at heart the interests of science and 
education. Its attitude can best be described in the words of Brutus :— 
“ For mine own part 
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.” 
