1873.] 



SENATE— No. 252. 



5 



beyond the necessary appropriations for its maintenance. 

 As to the expense I cannot feel that it is disproportionate, 

 because when I compare it with that of institutions of the 

 same character I see that they spend much more for smaller 

 results. The only question now is whether a Museum of first 

 order is needed in Massachusetts, or not. If the legislature 

 will favor us with a visit I would gladly submit our institu- 

 tion to the most critical examination of its organization. I 

 think I can satisfy any competent visitor, that by her liberal 

 support of the Museum, our State has earned the right to say 

 that among civilized communities there is not a purely scien- 

 tific establishment of higher character or distinguished by 

 more active, unremitting, original research in various depart- 

 ments of knowledge. If the same pecuniary support it has 

 had in the last two years can be continued in the coming 

 years it will not be long before the scientific world will ac- 

 knowledge that the Museum of Comparative Zoology in 

 Cambridge has no superior, nay, no equal in the world. 



Now that the newly erected addition to the building is 

 available it may be interesting to you to learn what disposition 

 is made of the whole, for purposes of work, instruction and 

 exhibition. 



True to the aim I have constantly kept in view and in con- 

 formity with the spirit of the institution, the space allowed for 

 work is proportionally much larger than in any other Museum ; 

 the object of this arrangement being to facilitate the rapid 

 growth of our collections. 



The lecture room is, as before, open to all who choose to 

 attend the general instruction given within the walls of the 

 institution. Lectures on different subjects of Natural History 

 are delivered during the whole year and have been attended 

 by students of the University, teachers of the public and 

 private schools of the vicinity, and ladies and gentlemen of 

 every class of the community. This kind of instruction has 

 always been given free of any charge. Next to the lecture 

 room is the student's laboratory ; there the practical instruc- 

 tion is given to beginners by Prof. Shaler, as set forth in his 

 special report, while the more advanced students work in the 

 private laboratories of the different departments, according 

 to their particular branches of study. 



