280 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 

A New Natura History Museum.—A general meeting of the 
East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society was held on May 
6th, at the Society’s Museum, Game Warden’s Office, Nairobi, the 
Hon. Mr. C. W. Hobley, C.M.G., being in the chair. 
In the course of his address, the chairman said :—‘“‘I can con- 
fidently state that, properly run and well supported, this society 
should prove one of the most valuable educational institutions this 
country possesses, and, if we justify ourselves, I hope the day is not 
far distant when we may look forward to a small amount of Govern- 
ment assistance in the shape of a grant. I further believe that I am 
not too optimistic to hope that this small museum will one day 
develop into a big State Museum, with a skilled director in charge and 
possibly managed by the society. Hven a small Protectorate like 
Zanzibar has a properly organized museum, and it seems absurd that 
a rapidly developing country like this should not have a similar 
institution properly equipped. Libraries and museums, nowadays, 
are indispensable adjuncts to civilization, and as this is the capital 
and the centre of the life of the country, its site must undoubtedly 
be here. We have one of the most marvellous fields for research and 
collection in the world at our very door. This country may not be 
so rich in insect life as, say, South America; it may not be so rich 
in reptile and bird-life as, say, India, but taking it all round, it has 
one of the most wonderful fauna and flora of any country, and it will 
be a disgrace to the country if we cannot make a representative 
central collection of it in Nairobi.’—(‘ African World,’ June 15th, 
1912.) 
