\July i, 1891 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



55 



The collection of Jewels consist of rings, earrings, 

 silver clasps, turquoise coronets, pearl necklaces, 

 belts, etc. etc. 



I understand that all these Collections have been 

 given to the French Government and will be distri- 

 buted amongst several Museums. Well done ! ! 



This is a noble example, which wealthy people of 

 all countries should imitate. The Editor. 



A Visit to the British Museum. 

 Natural History Department. 



By A. Boucard. 



Last week, I went and spent several hours in the 

 Galleries of the Natural History Department, British 

 Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington. My 

 first impression in seeing the building was that it look- 

 ed rather pretentious in its architecture, for a scienti- 

 fic Museum ; but after second thought, I remembered 

 that I was in London, the capital of the British Empire 

 which is rich enough to build Palaces for the exhibition 

 of such scientific treasures as are now in the possession 

 of the British Museum. 



That the building erected at South Kensington is a 

 Palace, there is no doubt about it. When inside, the 

 sight of the principal Gallery at the entrance is really 

 grandiose, and it is easy to see how everything has 

 been done to please and interest the general public. 

 What a wonderful change for the best for those who 

 remember how the Collections were crowded in the 

 old building of Great Russell Street. Not only the 

 local is magnificent and well adapted to its purpose ; 

 but a great part of the Collections of Mammals, Birds, 

 Insects, Reptiles, Shells etc., have been renovated, so 

 that everything look, fresh and young again. There 

 are magnificent series of Mammals, from the Elephants, 

 Giraffes, Rhinoceros, Chimpanzee, Gorillas and others 

 to Rats and Bats. The same with the Birds. Many 

 ofthe old and faded specimens been taken away and 

 replaced by fresh ones. There are some fine Series 

 of all the families, and especially so with the Birds of 

 Prey, Parrrots, Trogans &c. 



The great rarity of the century, the Great Auk or 

 Alca impenuis, an extinct species, is represented by two 

 fine specimens, one in the general collection of Birds, 

 and another in the splendid collection of British 

 Birds. 



Only 80 specimens of the Great Auk exist and 

 several Museums public and private, can boast of sev- 

 eral in their collections. 



But it will become rarer every day, and some of the 

 new Museums, built recently in several parts of the 

 World and which may become famous in due time, will 

 be content to possess models, as no money will be 

 able to buy original specimens. 



The collections of Fossils, Minerals, Shells, Reptiles, 

 Corals, Insects, Sponges, and Plants are also of the 

 greatest interest, and it will be a great boon for the 

 Londoners of all classes, when the Museum will be 

 lighted by electricity and opened in the evenings as 

 its elder brother, the South Kensington Museum. 



If this cannot be done, there is no other alternative 

 than to open it on Sundays. 



One way or the other, there is no doubt that it 

 will occasion some extra work and expense ; but 

 England is rich and can very well afford the extra 

 expenses, by employing special clerks for that 

 purpose, so as not to increase the work of the actual 

 staff. 



One of the most interesting innovations to be seen 

 in the actual Museum are the Cases of Birds, dis- 

 seminated a little everywhere, containing specimens 

 mounted with artistic taste and approaching nature 

 as near as possible. 



In some of them can be seen birds flying about as 

 if alive, in others they are nesting or with their young, 

 in others are represented interesting illustrations of 

 Mimicry. All these are greatly appreciated by the 

 public and shows decidedly that a Museum must not 

 be only scientific, but also artistic to be visited by 

 thousands, and as a rule, the general public is more 

 interested with these exhibitions of Birds and 

 Animals in Cases, than with the more scientific col- 

 lections. 



Another of the attractions is the celebrated 

 Goulds' Collection of Humming Birds, exhibited on the 

 first floor, on the right. 



Many other important Collections, purchased or 

 offered by generous Donators, such as Hewitson's 

 Butterflies, Hume's, Godman Salvin's, Sclater's, and 

 Capt. Shelley and Gould's Birds, and many 

 other important Collections are stored in the Mu- 

 seum, but are not exhibited to the public. 



Many of the visitors who go to the British Museum 

 and who admire the fine Collections exhibited in all 

 parts of this magnificent building, thinks that they 

 have seen all, when they have wandered through the 

 Galleries ; but it is not so. The Collections exhibited 

 to the public, are nothing when compared with the 

 Scientific Series of Mammals and Bird Skins, In- 

 sects, Reptiles and Fishes, Shells and Fossils, Dried 

 Plants, &c, &c, which are stored in the interior of 

 the building and only accessible to Students for 

 scientific purposes. 



The Collection of Birds alone consists actually of 

 about 350,000 specimens ! ! Is it not wonderful ! and 

 I believe it is about as rich in all the other Depart- 

 ments. 



Now it is time to remember to the Authorities of 

 the British Museum that Noblesse oblige, and it is 

 absolutely necessary, if they want to maintain the high 

 standard of development and completion which the 

 Collections have lately attained, and remain first as a 

 Scientific Museum, that they can only do so by being 

 very liberal in the prices given for specimens new to 

 Science or which they have not got, as every day 

 makes it more difficult for travellers and others to 

 obtain specimens suitable for the Collections. 



They should never miss the first purchase or pick 

 of good collections containing new and rare species, 

 from whatever source they come ; even if they must 

 pay a high price for them. 



If they don't do so, these Collections will go some- 

 where else, and the Natural History Department of 

 the British Museum will not be able to maintain 

 its actual pre-eminence amongst the leading 

 Museums. 



To be continued. 



