THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AT CARLISLE. 293 



and illustrating as far as possible the various changes of plumage 

 which the different species pass through. I persuaded my valued 

 friend Mr. Harris that the older birds in his series should be 

 replaced by fresh specimens. I deeply regret that his death 

 deprived us of the advantage of the advice of a senior naturalist, 

 whose practical knowledge would have been helpful in many ways. 

 To cut the story as short as possible, the Harris Collection 

 came to Carlisle, and, after the usual inevitable delay, was 

 lodged in Tullie House. The Chairman of the Corporation 

 Committee was Chancellor Ferguson. He was kind enough to 

 adopt such suggestions as Mr. D. L. Thorpe and I could make. 

 A deputation of the Corporation Committee visited Newcastle, and 

 a careful examination of the Museum in the hands of Mr. Howse 

 satisfied them that they could accept my suggestion to mount 

 our birds in similar cases to those which Mr. Hancock approved. 

 A birdstuffer — Mr. Hope, of Penrith — was engaged to commence 

 with such of the Harris birds and my skins and fresh speci- 

 mens as were most suitable. His time, however, could only be 

 given by instalments. 



The Corporation have treated the natural history department 

 of Tullie House in a generous spirit, but it is only one item in 

 their scheme — an item for which they have no personal taste or 

 appreciation. We have now a fair number of groups of British 

 birds ranged on shelves along the walls of a large gallery on the 

 ground floor ; but the time which the birdstuffer can devote to 

 the work is very limited. We have not as yet given much time 

 to the Passeres ; but the cases of the Black Redstarts, Bearded 

 Tits, and a few others are already appreciated by the public. A 

 fine series of the four British Skuas includes an adult Buffon's 

 Skua in full summer dress from the neighbourhood, as well as 

 many specimens in different stages. The Anatidce include a good 

 series of certain species, notably Harelda glacialis, Faligula 

 marila, Dqfila acuta, and others. The Dotterels were mostly 

 skinned by myself. An exception to this may be made in regard 

 to the nestling in down presented by Mr. Evelyn Rawson. One 

 day in 1893, when Mr. Thorpe was studying wildfowl in Western 

 Canada, and I was away on sick furlough, Mr. Rawson arrived 

 with three little downy Dotterel, all in the flesh, and intended for 

 the Carlisle Museum. In our absence we lost the opportunity. 

 Nevertheless Mr. Rawson gave us the only nestling which 



