The Scottish Naturalist. 



355 



Labelling is a most important adjunct to the usefulness of a 

 museum if well done. Without it the collections lose much of 

 their value, or may become worthless. Each species, and fre- 

 quently each specimen, should bear a label carefully prepared to 

 give as much information as possible in the space at command, 

 while legible in size of type ; i.e. the labels should be expressed 

 tersely and clearly, and be of a size to be easily read, while not 

 obtrusive. Printed labels are to be preferred to written ones, if 

 expense is not an obstacle. The value of the museum is much 

 increased if there are also label cards distributed about giving the 

 characters of general and higher groups, and also coloured maps 

 to show the habitats and distribution of the species, genera, and 

 larger groups. 



The Handbooks published in several museums give much 

 valuable information, supplementing the labels on matters that 

 could scarcely be noted on the latter. Such methods of giving 

 information to students and other visitors add very greatly to the 

 usefulness of museums, and tend to convince the public of their 

 value, and to enlist wider sympathy and assistance. With a 

 similar view the museum should be located in a central situation, 

 if that can be secured free from dust and noise. 



Where visitors pay for admission usually not more than 500 

 are found to enter a museum in each week on the average. 

 Where the museums are supported by rates and the admission is free 

 the average is much higher. Usually most visitors come in the 

 afternoons. 



Various minor points are treated of in the 1887 Report ; but I 

 will not occupy your time by entering upon a discussion of these, 

 'and will pass to the Report of 1888, which professes to "consider 

 the ideal to which Provincial Museums should endeavour to 

 attain, and to suggest practical methods for approaching that 

 ideal." 



Virtually, however, it deals with Municipal Rate-supported Free 

 Museums alone, leaving out of view museums attached to univer- 

 sities, colleges and schools, and museums that are the exclusive 

 property of societies and of individuals, on the ground that these 

 may be formed with advantage frequently on special lines, which 

 could not be properly treated in any general view of the subject. 

 But despite this restriction there is a good deal in the Report that 

 will reward careful perusal. It commences by stating the objects 



