496 A walk through the Nat. History Museum at Florence. (May, 
self transferred to the midst of a dissecting-room with all its ghast- 
ly surroundings. His consciousness that these animal forms and 
repelling developments are but waxen models, preserves him from 
losing his equilibrium, or he would be prompted to flee in horror 
from the scene. The sickening exhibition of several stages of — 
the progress of the plague, that once disgraced this series with its 
disgusting details, with other preparations, thanks to an awakened 
sense of propriety, have been removed to a private room. 
The value of these models can scarcely be deemed commenst- 
rate with the expense incurred in their preparation. Many, how- 
ever, who would not enter a dissecting room, who could not con- 
template the real organization, may here learn much respecting 
their internal economy—learn that they are “ fearfully and won- 
derfully made.” It cannot be of equal service to him who would 
know the inner workings of the human machinery, since he can 
be satisfied only by the dissection of the structure once endowed 
with life. It were better to limit their examination to the select 
few, rather than expose them to the gaze of the frivolous and 
ebased. 
The paleontological collection was formed by order of the 
government from material already in the museum, with additions 
made thereto in answer to resolutions passed by the third Scien- 
tific Congress held at Florence, which recognized its value and 
recommended the enlargement by an exhibition of repie : 
minerals and geological specimens from all parts of Italy. a | 
collection having outgrown the limits of the museum on the 
Romana, was removed to extensive rooms on Piazza San Marco, 
where also is located the “ Royal Institute for Higher ap 
established since the accession of Victor Emmanuel in A i 
Chairs of geology, metallurgy and mining were then estab ri 
under the charge of competent professors, for a new life has ; 
breathed into Italy. tthe | 
of the 
This museum abounds in fossil mammals from the valley 
m the Cretac 
g the migh i 
Upper Arno, and has also numerous fossils fro 
h also are aae : 
Some of the elephants are truly colossal, rivalin 
mastodon of North America, specimens of whic 
exhibited. and the 4 
Elephants must have abounded in the upper bas i 4 
abundant remains of this species and of rhinoceros, pottom o a 
mus, found in a deposit that probably once formed the a 
