560 OSSIFEROUS CAVES OF GIBRALTAR. 



Mineralogy of the Kock,' in 1797. In 1844 a laudable effort 

 was made by the late Archdeacon Burrow to establish a 

 museum on the rock; but, after languishing some time, it 

 failed from the want of proper support. The relics of the col- 

 lection were afterwards exhibited in the Soldiers' Home ; but 

 when that institution was given up, no place remained either 

 for displaying or taking proper care of the collection. Some 

 of the brightest records of the military glory and prowess of 

 our country are indissolubly connected with Gibraltar. A 

 great nation like England cannot afford to neglect, or disre- 

 gard without reproach, whatever bears on the natural history 

 or archaeology of so renowned a possession. That the naval 

 and military services take the liveliest interest in such objects 

 is placed beyond doubt by the United Service Museum of 

 London, founded upon collections contributed by them from 

 all j>arts of the world ; but it appears to us that the forma- 

 tion and maintenance of a local museum at Gibraltar, illus- 

 trative of its products and relics, ought not to fall upon the 

 garrison, who are only temporary residents, and that it is 

 more properly an Imperial obligation. The least expensive 

 and best mode of carrying the object into effect would pro- 

 bably be to have a room in the Library reserved for the pur- 

 pose, and under the management of the Library Committee. 

 The only outlay would be in the construction of the apart- 

 ment and in the glass cases for the objects ; no establishment 

 would be required. 



In case of any proposal of this nature being entertained, 

 we would venture to suggest to your Excellency that the 

 collection should be strictly limited to objects of local interest, 

 having reference to the rock, the bay, the straits, and the 

 immediate vicinity. Everything from beyond these limits 

 shoidd be excluded. A museum of reference of this nature 

 should include : — 



1. Herbarium collection of the plants yielded by the rock. 



2. A zoological collection of all objects, terrestrial and 



marine, produced within the limits. 



3. A collection of specimens of minerals of the rock. 



4. A complete collection of the fossil remains yielded by 



the ossiferous caves and bone-breccia of Gibraltar. 



5. An archaeological collection of coins, pottery, and other 



antique relics occurring within the circuit of the bay. 



In illustration of the absolute need there is of a local col- 

 lection of the kind here indicated, we may mention that, 

 being anxious to fix the age of the pottery yielded in such 

 abundance by the Windmill Hill Cave, no similar materials 

 for comparison derived from the ancient ruins of Carteia, or 



