PROVINCIAL MUSEUM REPORT 



FOR THE YEAR 1915. 



Since the Report of 1914 considerable progress has been made in the gathering of 

 specimens of natural history of the Province. Most of these specimens, like the material that 

 has been secured in recent Years, will have to be placed in storage, as it is impossible now to 

 place any more material on exhibition owing to the fact that the collection has outgrown the 

 present building. The subjects which are best represented and which have been as a whole 

 most completely classified, and can therefore be most advantageously exhibited for the benefit 

 of the pubKc, are, namelv : Anthropology, mammalogy, ornithology, oology, ichthyology, 

 entomology, and botanv. In the several branches of these subjects the collections are already 

 important and extensive, including a number of type specimens, and arrangements are under 

 way for valuable additions. While it is a primary duty of the Museum to preserve and 

 exhibit specimens confided to its care, the importance of the collection does not rest there, nor 

 upon the number of specimens assembled and their value in currency, but upon the use to 

 which they are put. From an educational point of view the collections are of great value to 

 those persons who are interested in studying the natural history of this Province. The 

 specimens in the exhibition halls have been carefully labelled, and there is also a large study 

 series in the several branches in the annex at the rear of the Museum Building. These study 

 series are available, on application to the Director, to those persons who wish to consult them. 

 This annex is only a frame building and not fire-proof, therefore every precaution is taken to 

 ensure its safety, as it contains many valuable specimens that it would be impossible to replace, 

 especially in the branch of anthropology. It also contains a large study series of bird-skins 

 for which moth-proof drawer-cases were made during the summer. During the early part of 

 the year the botanical collection which has been in the Department of Agriculture was 

 transferred to the Museum, as it was thought that this collection would be more accessible to 

 the general public for study were it placed in conjunction with the Museum collection which 

 was started in the year 1898, and which has been greatly added to by the Department 

 collectors in the last few years. 



A great deal of attention was given during the past year to the proper labelling of speci- 

 mens and the sorting of collections preparatory for storage. This work was principally carried 

 on after the close of the collecting season and entails considerable work. A number of 

 specimens in the several branches of natural history have to be sent to authorities on the 

 different subjects to be identified and verified. This work is done gratis for the Province by 

 larger institutions principally in the United States, who have a large staff of scientists with 

 whom the Director keeps in touch. The collections of the Provincial Museum are developing 

 so much that before long our scientific staff will have to be increased by having custodians in 

 charge of some of the most important branches of natural history, more particularly if the 

 Museum is to be expected to cany on educational work. A great deal more interest is being 

 taken in the flora and the fauna of the Province by school-teachers, especially during the 

 session of the summer school which is held in Victoria. The Museum is always ready to 

 assist visiting teachers in anyway possible, and from remarks that have been expressed, this 

 seems to be thoroughly appreciated. It is gratifying to see that the number of teachers who 

 bring their scholars to visit the Museum for nature-study is increasing, also the interest taken 

 by the children, some coming from the surrounding districts near Victoria. 



A larger number of persons visited the Museum this year than during the past year. 

 This, no doubt, was due to the Panama-Pacific Exposition being held in San Francisco, Cali- 

 fornia. Had it not been for the terrible European war at present in progress, no doubt the 

 number of visitors would have been nearly doubled. One of the most notable visitors to the 

 Museum this year was Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, who passed through Victoria on Sunday, 

 •July 18tb, and visited the Museum accompanied by the Premier, Sir Richard McBride, 

 K.C.M.G., the Honourable Thomas Taylor, and the Honourable D. M. Eberts, Speaker of the 

 Legislative Assembly. The party was shown over the exhibits by the Director, and many 

 complimentary remarks were made by Colonel Roosevelt, which were greatly appreciated. 



