No. 381.] MOTES ON SOME EUROPEAN MUSEUMS. 709 
and models, in the cases beside the specimens, to help to a 
clear understanding of structure. As examples of this feature, 
mention.may be made of the crinoids, the brachiopods, and the 
cephalopods. Glass models of living cephalopods and corals 
are used in connection with the labels, explaining the structure 
of those groups of animals. Gaps in the series on exhibition 
are filled by drawings until the desired specimens can be 
obtained. Type and figured specimens are carefully and prom- 
inently marked with discs of emerald green paper gummed to 
them. Manila board tablets about + of an inch thick, with 
light cream-colored surface, are now used in the cases. Pins 
are used for the most part instead of cement for keeping 
specimens in place. Species are divided off by means of strips 
of wood. The lower part of upright cases is utilized by putting 
in a false back and secondary shelves which bring the speci- 
mens close to the glass. None but large specimens, which do 
not require close inspection, are placed on the upper shelves 
of the upright cases. The drawers under the table cases 
are provided with sliding glass tops which protect their con- 
tents from dust and at the same time permit easy general 
inspection. The new floor cases have “ A’’-shaped tops, and 
for some forms of fossils which can be permanently attached 
to cards or mounted in trays or glass-topped boxes, these cases 
are excellent. A false bottom brings the specimens directly 
beneath the glass into good position for observation. All the 
cases have mahogany frames, metal frames not having found 
favor yet in this museum. The arrangement of the collection 
is primarily zodlogical, but under the zodlogical subdivisions 
the specimens are arranged according to geologic age and 
geographic provinces. A very large part of the material on 
hand is not on exhibition, being stored in accessible drawers as 
a study collection. The series of fossil plants is a very note- 
worthy portion of the department. One large gallery is devoted 
to the stratigraphic collection of British sedimentary rocks, and 
to nine collections of historic and palzontologic interest bear- 
ing upon the early history of the British Museum, and the 
study of geology and paleontology in Great Britain. The 
Stratigraphic collection gives a continuous section of the sedi- 
