No. 394-] NOTES ON EUROPEAN MUSEUMS. 779 
paid to what is practical as well as scientific. There are many 
models shown, many illustrations of industrial processes, and 
many illustrations of the uses to which natural products can 
be put. There are many styles of cases employed, though 
perhaps not of choice. A combination of half of a flat and 
half of an upright case is much used for a wall case, though 
vertical wall cases are being gradually used to replace these. 
The latter cases are fitted with plate-glass shelves, which rest on 
T-shaped bars extending across the case and capable of being 
adjusted in height by fitting into a series of slots in wall plates 
which run vertically. The door jambs of the cases are fitted 
with velvet, against which the door is screwed by bolts at top 
and bottom, turned with a hand wrench, so as to effectually keep 
out dust. A pyramidal floor case, about 8 feet long, 2 feet wide, 
and 7 feet high (the base and legs being 2 feet high), is used in 
the hall of Scottish minerals. The form of the case cannot be 
said to be altogether attractive, but the lighting of the speci- 
mens is admirable. The shelves in this case are fastened to a 
central upright partition. The arrangement of the collection 
of fossils is wholly zodlogical. The mineral collection is classi- 
fied on Dana’s system. Several halls are devoted to a repre- 
sentation of the geology of Scotland, to illustrate which and 
the work of the Geological Survey, an exhaustive collection has - 
been prepared. Maps of each district are shown, and in the 
adjoining cases are elaborate series of the rocks or fossils of 
the district. Photographs and transparencies, showing photo- 
micrographs of the rocks, also add to the completeness of the 
exhibit. An extensive collection of the minerals of Scotland 
is also shown. An aquarium hall containing living fish attracts 
much popular attention. 
General Conclusions. —If a museum building is on more 
than one floor or has its halls arranged in any other way than 
to favor a consecutive line of progress, the upper floors and 
side halls will not receive equal attention from visitors. If 
the building is of several stories, the windows should be high 
and fate without ; the plan of tiers of galleries around a cen- 
tral roofed court has many disadvantages. 
