REPORT ON MUSEU]M WORK 231, 



even as it stands the work represents a striking improvement 

 both in appearance and utility- over Vv'hat was sliown in these 

 cases before. If only we were able to spend a little money upon 

 specimens and fittings a still greater advance would at once 

 be possible. Above the shell-cases, which are not yet pro- 

 vided with fixed centre-cases, we have placed some narrow 

 upriglit cases from the old museum, and in these are now 

 shoAvn a number of shells which are too large for the desk- 

 cases below. This not only adds to the value of the shell 

 collection, but also decidedly improves the general appearance 

 of the room. Many specimens, including a few dissections 

 that we have made, have been mounted in spirit or formalin 

 in glass jars, and a section in which the museum was formerly 

 very weak is thus being rapidly strengthened. A good many 

 of the specimens used for this purpose were obtained during 

 several mornings whicli we spent in collecting on the neigh- 

 bouring coast ; all the material for the reproduction of the 

 rock-pool was procured in this way, and we are much indebted 

 to Mr. George Sisson for the help he gave us in collecting it. 

 We are trying some experiments to test the late Dr. Sorby's 

 plan of mounting zoological specimens in glycerine to preserve 

 their natural colours ; some brightly coloured starfishes treated 

 on this method have so far given a successful result. 



The classification and re-installation of the Tankerville 

 collection of corals has been completed. The method on which 

 the collection is now displayed was briefly described in last 

 year's report; for the Alcyonaria and sponges, which also 

 form part of the collection, it was somewhat modified : 

 the shelves used were of thick window-glass instead of rough 

 plate-glass, and were placed horizontally instead of on a 

 slope, the specimens being mounted so as to stand upright on 

 wooden blocks. The effect of the whole range of cases is 

 extremely pleasing. The identification of the corals and 

 Alcyonaria had to be done almost entirely from books, and 

 this made it a difficult and lengthy task. Various other pieces 

 of work in the zoology room have been done or are in hand. 

 The excellent collection of local spiders presented by the 



