No. 394.] NOTES ON EUROPEAN MUSEUMS. FIR 
museums which I saw constructed on the plan of galleries or 
halls around a central roofed court, the lighting is poor, so 
that much of the material cannot be seen satisfactorily. The 
rock collection, however, installed in flat floor cases, in a hall 
with side windows, is admirably lighted, and shows that such 
a combination may be satisfactorily used for obtaining good 
light. In the zoölogical halls, metal-framed cases, similar to 
those of the Dresden Museum, are employed. The same plan 
of group collections is also carried out, collections being exhib- 
ited which illustrate such features as varieties and differentia- 
tion of bone, skin, etc. 
The Museum of the School of Mines adjoining has much 
important material and most of it well exhibited, but my time 
was too short to permit any study of its methods. 
Zurich. — In the handsome Polytechnic Building are con- 
tained extensive geological and zodlogical collections, which 
are open to the public free one day in the week ; on other days 
admission is 50 centimes. The geological collection, built up 
chiefly by Professor Heim, is extensive and well cared for. 
The collections of minerals, rocks, and general geology are 
installed in floor cases of hard wood with sloping tops, no ver- 
tical wall cases being used. The collection here of greatest 
interest is that illustrating general geology. It is arranged 
upon a classification first proposed by Professor Heim, and is 
intended to illustrate the processes of formation, alteration, 
and decay which go on in the earth’s crust. The classification, 
which is worth noting, is on the following page. 
Each of these divisions is illustrated by specimens of the 
objects named, many of which are unique and striking. The 
proximity of the Alps has given an opportunity of which Pro- 
fessor Heim has made good use, for procuring the most vivid 
specimens. There are also shown, under each division, illustra- 
tions of the different phenomena as occurring in both recent 
and ancient time, as far as possible. Thus the collection as 
a whole gives a novel and effective presentation of the subject 
of general geology. The paleontological collection is large and 
well installed. Remains of the large quaternary mammals of 
