96 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



As to the destination of his valuable collection, consisting, 

 as we have said, of over 300 cases of British birds, all obtained 

 by himself, and beautifully mounted with their natural sur- 

 roundings, we learn on good authority that it has been offered to 

 the Trustees of the British Museum, on the condition that it is 

 not amalgamated with the general collection of mounted birds 

 there, but kept distinct as the " Booth Collection." We sincerely 

 hope that this offer will be accepted. Indeed, it is difficult 

 to conceive upon what grounds it can be declined. Want of room 

 can scarcely be urged, for should another gallery be required for 

 the display of such a collection (which is very probable), there is 

 plenty of vacant land immediately adjoining the present building 

 which could readily be utilised ; while want of money should 

 surely not be pleaded by the Treasury, when so valuable a 

 collection (worth at least £5000) is offered to the nation as a 

 gift. As to the suggestion that its acceptance would imply 

 the acquisition of a great many duplicates, that difficulty might 

 easily be got over by parting with a good many specimens now 

 in the museum wall-cases which, being old and badly stuffed, 

 might well be dispensed with. 



Furthermore, a moment's consideration will suffice to show 

 that the acquisition by the nation of the Booth Collection 

 would be not only a distinct gain from its intrinsic and educa- 

 tional value, but in the long run would prove a saving of 

 expense, even if a new side gallery were to be provided. For, at 

 the present estimated cost of the modern table-cases in the 

 museum (in which the birds are being mounted in imitation of 

 Mr. Booth's cases), it may be safely predicted that before 

 anything like a complete collection of British birds could be 

 formed (a task that would necessarily occupy many years), a 

 larger sum of money would have to be expended than would now 

 suffice to provide accommodation for this collection ready made, 

 in which to add to its value, every bird has its history entered in 

 a printed catalogue. 



Nor should we lose sight of the fact, that Mr. Booth, having 

 seen, at one time or another, every one of the birds in his 

 collection alive in its natural haunts, has been thereby enabled 

 to give them those graceful and life-like attitudes which charm the 

 critical naturalist, but which the professional London birdstuffer, 

 for want of out-door observation, is hardly ever able to impart, 



