The Aims and Scofc of a Provincial Mttseum. 33 



from the glass into the visitor's eye ; thirdly, skylights required 

 constant cleaning and repair. On the whole, side-light with 

 windows placed at the ordinary height, seemed to be the best for 

 all moderately-sized exhibits. The screens or cases, if placed 

 between the windows at right angles to them, received excellent 

 light, and it was after all the natural one for human habitations. 

 iMraost all picture galleries were constructed to receive day light 

 from above, although the great majority of the pictures were 

 originally painted in side-lighted rooms and were never intended 

 for the great top-light halls in which they were now exhibited. 

 A very important consideration was that the museum building 

 should be constructed as far as possible of fireproof material, 

 which he understood could now be obtained at a small additional 

 cost. He had mentioned that the collection of every large museum 

 must necessarily be arranged into two series — namely, an exhibited 

 series and a reserve or study series. The officials of a provincial 

 museum, owing to want of space, might be anxious to curtail or 

 even do without the latter. But the museum could scarcely 

 manage to fulfil its proper functions if some provisions were not 

 made for the safe storage of study and reserve collections. 

 Every provincial museum received lai-ge collections, such as 

 birds, butterflies, flint or stone implements, which could not all be 

 exhibited. These, along with the duplicates, should be made 

 available for study and comparison by students. There were 

 many other objects that came into the possession of a provincial 

 museum which might not be suitable for exhibition, and they were 

 yet of considerable value to specialists. It was incumbent, there- 

 fore, on those who planned a local museum to make ample 

 provision for the storing of such objects and their preservation 

 from injury as well as for the staff of officials who looked after 

 them. There should be a supply of store drawers — if possible 

 interchangeable — an especially fire-proof spirit store and suitable 

 cases for the various objects that might have to be deposited 

 there. Finally, it was desirable, in view of the growing popular 



