XXVI THE HANCOCK MUSEUM AND ITS HISTORY 



ductory cases is being prepared, each one containing a simple 

 account of one geological period, illustrated by a few selected 

 specimens. Some day there should be similar introductory 

 cases in nearly every department of the museum, designed to 

 help visitors to a better understanding of the collections as a 

 whole. And an even more valuable, and in the best sense 

 popular development, would be the introduction of " topical " 

 cases — groups of specimens, fully described, illustrating such 

 subjects as protective mimicry, nesting habits, methods of 

 locomotion, damage and benefit to crops. Now even as it 

 stands the Hancock Museum is capable of being used not 

 only as a place of reference for skilled naturalists, but also as 

 a most valuable accessory to education, as well as a general 

 means of encouraging an interest in natural history. When 

 the first step, the better display and helpful labelling of the 

 " roughed out " portions, is accomplished, it will naturally 

 serve these ends very much better. When, finally, it has been 

 developed on the lines suggested above, that is to say when 

 all that is possible has been done to make it both attractive 

 and self-explanatory, the good influence of the museum as an 

 educational factor and as a means of stimulating a healthy 

 interest in nature will be beyond calculation. 



And it will be in the soberest economical sense a mistake if 

 the museum does not undergo such a development. It is in 

 fact a mistake that it should not be approaching it more 

 rapidly now. So much has been done already that to allow 

 the work to remain incomplete is like " spoiling the ship for a 

 ha'porth of tar." The enthusiasm aroused by John Hancock 

 has provided a fine building on an admirable site, and a 

 succession of gifted naturalists of the north-eastern counties — • 

 Hancock himself, Joshua Alder, Mr. Fred Raine, and all the 

 others we have spoken of — have endowed the museum with 

 the results of their life-long labours. After all this, in a 

 locality which twenty-five years ago honourably distinguished 

 itself by the generous send-off which it gave to the new 

 museum, it would surely be pathetic if the same museum were 

 allowed to remain permanently but half developed through 

 subsequent lack of support. 



