The Improvements effected in Modern Mttseums. 21 



the series in such a manner, that every school-boy can easily find 

 the bird he wishes to know. 



In the same way the bones, and in particular the sterna of 

 birds, so important in their classification, have been arranged ; 

 the fossil remains are also exhibited in this way, close to the 

 mounted skeletons of several extinct birds. 



In the Mammalian department there is also a series of mounted 

 skeletons, besides a number of boards, each with a skeleton 

 put down flat — a new way of arranging bones, which has since 

 been adopted by many of my colleagues in England and on the 

 continent of Europe. 



A very important arrangement is, to have the teeth of animals 

 mounted on glass slides, each species on a separate piece, besides 

 preserving a skull in a stopper bottle. This plan answers excel- 

 lently for comparison when classifying fossil remains. 



I may also draw attention to the advantage glass has over wood 

 or millboard, for mounting in particular delicate specimens ; all 

 the shells, the greater part of the smaller fossils, and other objects 

 are thus exhibited in the collection. The paper upon which 

 they rest never becomes dirty, and any color can be chosen, 

 and removed if necessary without much trouble. 



Everybody who has mounted specimens, know show trouble- 

 some and impracticable wood or cardboard is, and how easily 

 objects are broken when removing them. Glass always keeps 

 straight, wood and card-board warp. If a specimen is to 

 be changed, the glass is only held for a second over a spirit lamp, 

 and the shellac or gum mastic gives way at once. 



I must now again quote Dr. Gray, to prove that almost every 

 single proposition which he makes to the British Museum Trustees 

 has been partially carried out in Australia years ago, and this as- 

 sertion will be found further strengthened as soon as the necessary 

 table cases are made, which will enable the Trustees to exhibit their 

 collection to the best advantage, both for the student and for the 

 general visitor. 



Dr. Gray remarks : " "What the largest class of visitors, the gene- 

 ral public, want, is a collection of the most interesting objects, 

 so arranged as to afford the greatest possible amount of informa- 

 tion in a moderate space, and to be obtained, as it were, at a 

 glance. On the other hand, the scientific student requires to 

 have under his hands the most complete collection of specimens 

 that can be brought together, and in such a condition as to admit 

 of the most minute examination of their differences, whether of 

 age, or sex, or state, or of whatever kind that can throw light 

 upon all the innumerable questions that are continually arising 

 in the progress of thought and opinion. 



" Every scientific student requires the cases to be opened, to 

 allow him to examine and handle the specimens, and in the stuffed 



