VI PREFACE. 



marks on this subject relating to the British Museum 

 I refer the reader to a very sensible article in Part 

 169 of the Mirror, (vol. xxvi. p. 69,) where the sub- 

 ject is taken up in the proper spirit. Much of the 

 value of Dr. Horsfield's collection is also lost 

 through a similar neglect. The museum in Bruton 

 Street is worse still. On looking for information 

 concerning the birds, our eyes are perpetually greeted 

 with a label to the following effect, " Presented by 

 N. A. Vigors, Esq." The student must certainly be 

 very much edified by this piece of intelligence re- 

 peated many dozen times ; and his scientific know- 

 ledge cannot fail to be greatly augmented thereby ! 

 Why not write this piece of information over the 

 cabinet (if they please, in the largest characters they 

 can invent,) and then label each bird with its verna- 

 cular and latin name, giving at the same time one or 

 two of its most striking habits ? The value of the gift 

 would thus be tenfold greater than at present. 



Mr. Weaver, the spirited proprietor of the Birm- 

 ingham Museum, numbers each of the specimens, 

 so that, on referring to the printed catalogue, the 

 name of any bird may be found. This is certainly 

 an improvement ; but I think it would be preferable 

 to label the birds at once. For many do not possess 

 themselves of the catalogue, and those who do, fre- 

 quently omit searching out the name of a bird, which, 

 had it been before them, might have been indelibly 

 impressed on their memory. 



The catalogue now presented to the world will 



