of eggs. Collection especially rich in British
birds, these mounted in groups with accessories
usually simple but effective. Much glass used to
represent water with excellent effect, ripples & rings
being blown in the glass. A group usually contained
5 or 6 & frequently a dozen or more birds of
various ages from the chick up, besides the nest
& eggs. The water birds were especially good. In
many cases large photos of colonies of breeding
birds, such as Gannets, Murres, Gulls, Cormorants
etc. were placed in the case by the side of
the group, a capital idea. The average
quality of the taxidermist's (Mr. Reynolds of
Liverpool now dead) work was far above anything
in America. Conventions were discarded & the 
most daring things attempted usually with
success. Nearly all the groups had one or more
flying birds, suspended by fine or hidden
wires. This was done even with the Ducks.
The entire collection is arranged systematically
most of the exotic species being on single 
stands. The collection of mammals is very
fine. To Chester by 5 P.M. train (see Journal)
To Chester Park in evening. Hear Song Thrushes.
June 23. Chester
  Clear and warm. Evening cloudy
with light shower.
  Spend the morning shopping. To
Cathedral at 4 P.M. with E. R. S. Service of
about an hour with the finest church
music that I have ever heard, 
the effect due largely, probably, to
the acoustic properties of the building.
The verger shows us about for a 
little while and I make an appointment with him for a
more thorough inspection at noon
to-morrow.
  After dinner (7.30 P.M.) take a
walk down White Friars & Gray Friars.
Trees dripping after the shower. Look
in the gardens for toads and earthworms
but none visible. See my first
Blackbird, a [male] perched on chimney 
top very noisy but not in song.