335 



PUBLIC DEPARTMENT. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE MADRAS GOVERNMENT. 



Dated 16th April 1862, No. 464. 



The Government have for some years maintained a Museum at 

 Madras in which many valuable specimens have been deposited, but 

 the collection illustrative of the Natural Plistory of even this Presi- 

 dency is still very defective. This has probably arisen, in the first 

 place, from ignorance on the part of the public that any value is 

 attached to specimens of Natural History, or that such contribu- 

 tions will deserve or receive a place in the Museum ; and in the 

 second place from want of instruction as to the objects to be collect- 

 ed and the mode of preserving them. 



2. The accompanying short paper (adapted to India from one 

 which was issued by the Government of New South Wales) contains 

 clear and practical instructions as to the Mode of preserving speci- 

 mens, and the Governor in Council resolves to publish and circulate 

 it here, with the double intention of placing such information within 

 the reach of the public and of, thereby, affording them the assurance 

 that every thing which bears upon any of the many branches of Na- 

 tural History from the minutest insect or shell, to the skin and 

 skeleton of the largest mammal, is of value, and will be thankfully 

 received and acknowledged by the Superintendent of the Museum, 

 Captain Mitchell. 



3. The advantages to be derived from the existence at the Head 

 Quarters of the Presidency of a Museum containing not merely the 

 productions of the Southern part of India but also those of other 

 portions of the globe are manifest. In order however to obtain 

 specimens from other countries the Superintendent of the Museum 

 must be in position to give those of India in exchange and this he 

 cannot do unless from the different Districts he is furnished with 

 specimens illustrative of their Natural History. 



4. The Governor in Council entertains the hope that the public 

 will very generally co-operate with the Government in this desirable 

 object and that they will the more readily do so when they learn 



