Annual .Report.] 344 [May 3, 



which would not fail to attract the attention of all persons interested 

 in education and science, it would be necessary to allow one or two 

 cases to each department, this being in about the proportion of one- 

 twentieth or one-thirtieth, according to the size of the department. 



The whole number of cases necessary would then be fifteen, and 

 when set up would occupy one hundred and sixty-five feet of linear 

 measure. Their other dimensions should be as follows: Depth to 

 wall eighteen inches, height from floor seven feet. 



The -attractiveness and beauty of such a display would be very 

 great independently of its value as an exponent of advanced views 

 with regard to the proper uses of specimens in public museums, but 

 the cost to the Society would be very considerable, not less than two 

 thousand dollars. 



Fourth — That the Society also exhibit selected portions of its 

 New England collection. This follows the preceding collections, the 

 arrangement of which has just been described, and supplements them. 

 It contains all the species of minerals, fossils, plants and animals 

 found within the geographical limits of New England, and it is ar- 

 ranged upon an entirely distinct plan from all the other collections. 

 The specimens are means for the use of those seeking special infor- 

 mation with regard to any particular form found in this vicinity, and 

 the Society strives to bring together all the attainable facts with 

 regard to even the minutest variation in structure or habit. Multi- 

 plicity in the main body of the collections is avoided, types alone 

 are selected; multiplicity of specimens is here the rule, exhibition of 

 types impossible. The New England collections, in other words, 

 serve as illustrated sources of reference for the correction or confirm- 

 ation of facts observed in the field work of the teacher or general 

 student, which last work can only be intelligently entered upon after 

 the study of the general connections of things in the type collections. 

 This department could be completely illustrated with selections occu- 

 pying twelve cases, extending eighty-four feet, and the cost to the 

 Society of the preparation and care of the same would be at least 

 one thousand dollars. 



Thomas T. Bouv:ri, President Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 



John Cum mings, Vice President. 



Alpheus Hyatt, Custodian. 



