PEALE'S MUSEUM 



225 



Chahles Willson Peale. 



With respect to the arrangement of the specimens on the shelves 

 Pealo; says: 



It is not customary in Europe, it is said, to paint skies and landscapes in 

 their cases of birds and other animals, and it may have a neat and clean 

 appearance to line them only with white paper, but on the other hand it is not 

 only pleasing to see a sketch of a landscape, but by showing the nest, hollow, 

 cave or a particular view of the country from which they came, some instances 

 of the habits may be given. 



This idea is interesting because it is the one that is growing in favor 

 in the museums of Europe and America at the present time. 



Peale and His Contemporaries 



In 1792 Peale writes: 



Havng exerted myself to my utmost ability to collect and preserve articles 

 for the mi seum and believing I could get men of distinction to form a board 

 of visitors and obtain legislative aid for the further improvement of it so that 

 at last it might become a great national institution, I waited on several 

 gentlemen. 



vol. lxxv. — 15. 



