358 



The Scottish Naturalist. 



The possession of duplicates, with the power to exchange them 

 for the duplicates in museums of a similar kind, would probably 

 prove of considerable assistance in furthering the progress of the 

 educational collections in the museum, but would be of less value 

 to the local collections. 



The educational value of a well-organised museum is not yet 

 appreciated by the public, though there is some ground for the 

 hope that it is making headway, though slowly, and that the im- 

 portance of training the powers" of observation will yet obtain 

 recognition from School Boards and others responsible for the 

 education of the young. 



The Report under consideration rightly points out that the value 

 of scientific instruction is due to : — 



1. The insight that it gives into the laws and processes of 

 Nature, widening the mental vision. 



2. The training of the senses by the habit of accurate observa* 

 tion, and of the reasoning powers by tracing the connection of 

 causes and effects ; and 



3. The discovery of facts and laws of practical utility. 



In fulfilling all of these aims a well-organised museum may be 

 of essential service ; and they should always be kept prominently 

 in view in its formation, even where not the most important aims 

 of its organisers. In surveying its treasures the mind should be 

 led to compare and contrast the objects exhibited, to trace the 

 gradual development of knowledge in each department of Natural 

 Science or of human progress, and to extend the bounds of our 

 insight into the world in which we live. 



With this object the specimens should be naturally grouped so 

 as to show clearly their points of likeness and of contrast. The 

 special and distinctive character of the several grades of classifica- 

 tion should be indicated both on the labels and in the grouping. 

 Wherever possible, it is well to have the habits of life and the 

 adaptations to environment clearly brought into view in the same 

 way among both animals and plants. The distribution, both 

 geographical and geological, is best shown by maps scattered 

 among the specimens, so coloured as to show these particulars for 

 each species or group of species. 



A most interesting addition to the collections, where practicable, 

 consists in the preparation of series of specimens to illustrate the 

 past geological history of the district in which the museum is 



