38 AjS'nual meeting. 



Total . . 5,563 



The increase in numbers on past years is due, no doubt, to 

 the recent valuable additions, and to the improvements which 

 are being made with a view to rendering the collections more 

 useful to those desirous of studying them. 



A scheme for exhibiting the mineral collections has been 

 worked out by the curator, Mr. George Penrose, and has been 

 approved by the Council. Space has been allotted for the 

 accommodation of fourteen desk- shaped cases to contain the 

 general collection. In response to the wish of the special 

 committee appointed to consider the arrangement and display of 

 the minerals, the curator designed a very beautiful case which 

 the Council, after consideration, adopted. The upper part is 

 air-tight and of plate-glass, and is intended to contain specimens 

 selected either for their beauty or rarity, or because they 

 illustrate some special feature of the science; whilst the lower 

 portion consists of thirty drawers to receive duplicates and 

 specimens that would be injured by exposure to light. A sample 

 case has been made and placed in position in the museu.m, and 

 contains the first group — the native elements. The group is 

 complete and the specimens are properly classified, and, in order 

 to give them an attractive appearance, each is placed on cotton 

 wool in a black wooden tray with a printed label, making the 

 series both interesting and intelligible. A notable feature is 

 that all Cornish specimens have pink labels. 



It is intended to adopt the same method, in laying ovit the 

 other cases as soon as they can be obtained. In order that this 

 important work may be completed, and the collections made 

 accessible to students and the public, funds are urgently required 

 for the provision of thirteen similar cases. Until such cases are 

 provided the valuable and important collections of minerals now 

 available cannot be displayed in an adequate manner ; indeed, 

 the greater portion cannot be exhibited at all. The collections 

 {ire the finest that can be found in any provincial museum, and. 



