332 



MUSEUMS* 



satisfied with the outline which I have just given 

 him. I have no doubt but that his own abilities 

 and industry will eventually crown his efforts with 

 success. 



Upon this new principle I have prepared the 

 large ant-bear, a land tortoise, an armadillo, a dog's 

 head (now in the possession of the Duke of North- 

 umberland), a hedgehog, a polecat, and the non- 

 descript. 



These specimens will be amply sufficient to prove 

 that animals with a rough coat of hair, others with 

 a smooth one, others with a shell, others with a 

 scaly armour, others with a soft fur, and others, in 

 fine, with a skin studded over with spikes, can have 

 their form and features restored ; and that the skin, 

 prepared after the manner which I have described, 

 will always retain its shape and brilliancy, and be 

 quite free from the ravages of the moth, or from any 

 detriment by being exposed to damp. 



Museums ought to be encouraged by every means 

 possible. The buildings themselves are, in general, 

 an ornament to the towns in which they have been 

 built ; whilst the zoological specimens which they 

 contain, although prepared upon wrong principles, 

 are, nevertheless, of great interest ; since they afford 

 to thousands, who have not the means of leaving 

 their own country, a frequent opportunity of seeing 

 the r^re and valuable productions which are found 

 in far distant parts of the globe. 



When I visit Leeds, I generally spend an hour in 

 Calvert's Museum, where I never fail to be highly 

 gratified. Mr. Calvert is a gun-maker of the first 



