Victoria, B. C. 7 



The Ethnological Collection contains over fifteen hundred 

 specimens of the skill of the Datives of this Province, and illustrates 

 the common life of them from a remote past, the age of which we 

 have no means of ascertaining, up to the introduction of European 

 manufactures and implements, and the consequent disappearance of 

 the older arts. The advent of iron, steel and brass appears to date 

 from about one hundred years ago or even earlier, and was probably 

 followed for some time by an improvement in wood carving;, such 

 as may be expected from the use of sharper tools. This collection 

 is another department where much requires to be done, and that 

 quickly. Every day increases the difficulty and cost of procuring 

 relics of the fast disappearing- original occupants of the land, where 

 legends told of many totem poles are as curious aud deeply interest- 

 ing - as any histories of bygone nations can be. Though in the midst 

 of a collection area unrivalled in the world, little is being done, or 

 has been, to take advantage of the golden opportunity of the present. 

 The collection, although incomplete, is at the same time a most inter- 

 esting study, embracing as it does some relics of almost every known 

 Indian tribe of British Columbia, either extinct or still existing. 

 The jade implements are especially deserving of attention, as well 

 as one piece of jade weighing upwards of twenty-five pounds, no 

 doubt the largest specimen ever found on the Pacific Coast. 



The grouping of mammals and birds, which is now the principal 

 feature in all Museums, has been initiated here, and groups shown 

 with their natural surroundings, at a glance teach a person as to 

 their habits and life history. The Museum contains good collec- 

 tions, embracing, as it does, many tine and rare specimens. 



The Ornithological, or Bird Collection, too, is admirable and com- 

 plete, not only every familiar feathered friend being met with, but 

 specimens being on vieAv of birds entirely new to British Columbia. 

 if not to the Pacific Coast: and the Museum Collection intelligently 

 read offers incontrovertible evidence of the constantly changing 

 distribution of the birds of the world. 



The fishes of the Province are fairly well represented, both in 

 alcoholic specimens and gelatine casts, the latter method being now 

 almost entirely employed in representing the fishes, and so far with 

 satisfactory results. The fish of British Columbia waters offer a 

 very varied list of specimens from the Smelt (Osmerus thaleichthys, 

 Ayres i to the Halibut (Hippoglossus vulgaris, Fleming). Here we 



