The Scottish Naturalist. 



353 



less than 5000 square feet, in a second-class below 2500 feet, and in 

 a third-class below 1000 feet. The space maybe provided either 

 by means of one or more large halls, or by several smaller rooms, 

 each method having advocates. The space is best utilised (where 

 possible) by placing the cases at right angles to the walls in the 

 spaces between the windows, and by having one or more slight 

 galleries round the hall, of a construction that would not disad- 

 vantageously exclude light. 



The Light supplied in museums should be good ; but direct 

 sunshine takes the colours so much out of the specimens that, as 

 far as possible, it should be excluded. The windows should be 

 large and high, and should not be blocked with heavy tracery near 

 the top. 



Artificial lighting is usually effected by the use of gas ; but this 

 method is hurtful to some specimens. Electric lighting is resorted 

 to in some large museums, and is found to be a very great improve- 

 ment upon the use of gas, both in the clearness of the light and in 

 the prevention of injury to the specimens from the products of com- 

 bustion. 



The angle at which the light falls should be attended to in 

 order to avoid a disagreeable reflection from the glazed fronts of 

 the cases to the eyes of the spectators. 



The internal Fittings should be most carefully considered so 

 as to afford the maximum of good accommodation for the display 

 of specimens, while avoiding useless expense. The material 

 should be of well-seasoned wood and good glass; but may vary, 

 according to the funds available, from oak or other hard wood in 

 the richer museums, to deal in those with smaller funds, without 

 affecting the usefulness of the institutions. 



The mode of arrangement of the cases, whether in a continuous 

 series along the walls or so arranged between the windows as to 

 form recesses, must be, in most museums, chiefly determined by 

 the dimensions of the rooms available. It is very desirable to 

 have some horizontal table-cases, furnished with sets of drawers 

 below for the protection of many specimens that cannot be ex- 

 posed to light without injury, e.g., insects. The drawers are, in 

 several museums, prevented from being drawn completely out by 

 a stop, which can be withdrawn (for the removal of the drawer) 

 by the proper officials alone. Thus the drawers can be freely 

 inspected by the public, but their glazed lids cannot be removed, 



z 



