IV 
Iii a Guide of limited extent it lias only been possible to 
mention the more striking exhibits, and it does not convey 
any idea of the rich and varied collections which have been 
brought together and are available to students of research. 
The building up of the extensive collections of both Aus- 
tralian and Foreign Fossils now in the Museum was largely 
due to the wide knowledge and foresight of the late Professor 
Sir Frederick McCoy, who held the position of Director of the 
Museum almost from its foundation until his deatli in J uly, 
1 899. The bulk of the foreign collection was acquired by him, 
some of the more important material being obtained from 
Krantz, of Bonn (mainly invertebrates) ; Thos. Bean, of 
Scarborough (Jurassic plants of Yorkshire, England — a 
collection only second to that of Cambridge) ; the Ammonite 
collection of 2,000 specimens from Dr. Thos. Wright ; 
the English Oolite fossils of Dr. John Lycett (over 3,000 
specimens) and several notable collections, including Paris 
Basin and Old Red Sandstone Fossils, from Robert Damon, 
of Weymouth. 
The Australian Collection has been largely built up 
from specimens obtained by the Geological Survey, public 
donations, purchases, exchanges, and special collecting by 
the Palaeontologist. 
The more important of the separate collections are those 
of Geo. Sweet, Cresswell, Hall, Spry, Mulder and Robertson. 
JAS. A. KERSHAW, 
Curator. 
January, 1929. 
