REPORT 01^1 MUSEUM WORK. 315 



to some extent spoilt. The paper is now being removed, and 

 the wood given a coat of size and several coats of white paint. 

 In this way we hope to get a permanent result ; the improve- 

 ment effected by the work as far as it has gone is very striking. 

 Mr. Bolam's birds have been alluded to in the council's report. 

 We brought the whole of his collection from Berwick to the 

 museum to examine it and to make a selection, and the birds 

 chosen are temporarily exhibited together before being dis- 

 tributed to their places. 



Some further examination and re-arrangement has been 

 done amongst the contents of the store cupboards, and we 

 have sorted through a large accumulation of old documents 

 and publications. It should also be mentioned that the 

 Society's library is being catalogued, with a view to making it 

 of more service to the members for reference. 



The number of ordinary visitors to the museum varies only 

 very shghtly from year to year. By a rough calculation based 

 on the amount of the admission fees taken at the door, the 

 number has usually been stated at 16,000 to 20,000 in the 

 year. With the turnstile it will now be possible to arrive at a 

 more accurate figure. Calculating from the record for the 

 seven months during which the turnstile has been in use, it 

 appears that the year's total is likely to amount to about 

 17,000. A pleasant feature in connexion with the visitors is 

 that the collections in the museum are now frequently con- 

 sulted by highly qualified specialists as an aid in their work. 

 It is also gratifying to find that local naturalists are making 

 more use of the reference collections ; and there has been a 

 considerable increase in the number of parties making the 

 museum the object of a special visit, usually on Saturday 

 afternoons. In such cases I give, as a rule, a short demon- 

 stration upon some part of the collections. Lately also I have 

 occasionally given short lessons to school classes. 



A few words as to the general position of the museum may 

 not be out of place in an annual report. Since the appoint- 

 ment of a lady assistant and the return to a normal working 



