2i The Improvements effected in Modern Museums. 



state, that I think we are doing wonders, with an endowment of 

 £1,000, and a supplement of £200 a year. The Museum is now 

 four times as large as it was five years ago, and still the Trustees 

 manage to keep the place in order with this small sum. There 

 is of course no money to buy Gorillas— for which the Victorians 

 spent more than we can spare — so we must content ourselves to 

 exhibit drawings of the great Ape which is only represented in 

 the baby state. 



This brings me to another most important subject, the exhibi- 

 tion of highly interesting, or rare specimens, engraved or photo- 

 graphed. A. photographic establishment is one of the most 

 essential parts of a modern museum, and what can be done 

 in a small way may be gleaned from the specimens now exhibited. 

 These photographs could be transferred to stone with little ex- 

 pense — there are able artists in Sydney who can do this as well 

 as the best in England — and by such a means New South Wales 

 might pay some debts of long standing to those liberal minded 

 institutions who for years past have sent their valuable publica- 

 tions without ever receiving the slightest return. Look at the 

 publications of other museums ; why cannot a few hundred pounds 

 a year be spared to make our wonderful productions known to 

 the world ? Why have we to send contributions to other countries 

 for publication ? Would it not be better to expend a small sum in 

 this way here ? It is money well laid out and will greatly assist 

 in educating the people. It is only the first advance of four 

 or five hundred pounds which is required, the sale of copies would 

 soon cover the expenses. Since writing this, I have had some 

 conversation with Mr. Victor Prout, our well known artist, who, 

 in the mostliberal manner,has photographed a fewspecimens at the 

 Museum, and with his fine instrument enlarged some of them to 

 the size of life. I ask the members present, can there be any- 

 thing which would give a better idea of what animals are ? The 

 Bearded Lizard, in particular, is a splendid example of the pho- 

 tographic art. Taken from life, Mr. Prout had great difficulty in 

 producing a good picture, but succeeded at last, and I think it 

 would be well to have such works lithographed. 



The Diamond snake, by Mr. Barnes, enlarged by Mr. Victor 

 Prout, is also from a living subject, and could not well be 

 surpassed. 



In concluding this paper, I cannot but mention the great assist- 

 ance which our Museum always derived from the schoolboys of 

 this city, many of whom are now among the pioneers at the Grulf, 

 or growing cotton at Fiji. They always remember the old place, 

 and often send the most valuable contributions. I deeply regret 

 the loss of one of my young friends, who was indefatigable 

 in his exertions to serve science whenever he could, and to whom 



