16 The Improvements effected in Modem Hfuseums. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that the due disposition of 

 the numerous specimens for advantageous exhibition is at present 

 in statu quo, owing to the laying of encaustic tiles in the centre 

 hall of the new wing, and consequently the contents, amply 

 sufficient for two rooms, are now crowded into one. One of the 

 great improvements in modern Museums, has thus already been 

 tested, namely, that all cabinets should be moveable, and fixed 

 on rollers. If the old plan had been adopted of building the 

 cabinets on the floor, the public would have been deprived of 

 inspecting the best part of our collection, for at least four 

 months to come. 



I will now, with your permission, quote Dr. Gray, whose ex- 

 perience in the largest and most important Museum in the world, 

 extends over a life time, and whose opinion should be well con- 

 sidered by those, who are about establishing private or public 

 Museums in these colonies : — 



"It is easy to devise the plan of a Museum, which shall be the 

 most interesting and instructive to general visitors, and one from 

 which, however short their stay, or however casual their inspec- 

 tion, they can hardly fail to carry away some amount of valuable 

 information. 



" The larger animals, being of course more generally interesting, 

 and easily seen and recognized, should be exhibited in the pre- 

 served state, and in situations where they can be completely 

 isolated. This is necessary also, on account of their size, which 

 would not admit of their being grouped in the manner, winch I 

 propose with reference to the smaller specimens. 



" The older Museums were for the most part made up of the 

 square glass-fronted boxes, each containing one, or sometimes a 

 pair of specimens. This method had some advantages, but many 

 inconveniences — among others, that of occupying too large an 

 amount of room. But, I cannot help thinking, that when this 

 was given up for the French plan of attaching each specimen to 

 a separate stand, and marshalling them like soldiers on the shelves 

 of a large open case, the improvement was not so great as many 

 suppose ; and this has become more and more evident since the 

 researches of travellers and collectors, have so largely increased 

 the number of known species, and of species frequently separated 

 by characters so minute, as not to be detected without careful 

 and close examination. 



" Having come to the conclusion that a Museum, for the use of 

 the general public, should consist chiefly of the best-known, the 

 most marked, and the most interesting animals, arranged in such 

 a way, as to convey the greatest amount of instruction in 

 the shortest and most direct manner, and so exhibited as to be seen 

 without confusion ; I am very much disposed to recur to some- 

 thing like the old plan of arranging each species, or series of 



