THE PRINCE OF WALES MUSEUM. 
779 
writer’s absence on the Prince's shoots at this critical period had 
the onus of this work thrown on his shoulders. A considerable 
saving in the cost was affected through the Honorary Secretary, who 
previous to accepting the local estimates for plate glass cabled for the 
current prices in England with the result that the estimate was reduced by 
the substantial sum of Rs. 1(3,000. 
The cases for the Mammal Gallery which are now completed ; have 
been designed on the latest principles ; they are air-tight and constructed 
of the best seasoned teak available. 
The next question before us is the filling of the cases. The problem 
of mounting animals was one that required considerable deliberation. The 
usual policy in the past was to have the animals mounted by a Taxider- 
mist attached to the Museum. The man was usually poorly paid and had 
the vaguest notion of the work he was attempting to do. This often 
resulted in a horrible collection of monstrosites. Taxidermy is at the 
present day a fine art, and in England and America is attracting quite a 
superior type of man to the bird stuff’er of old. After consultation with 
Experts in England and comparison of the estimates proffered by one 
or two well-known Taxidermist firms in India, it was discovered that it 
would be decidedly more advantageous if the Museum could secure for 
itself either the services of a trained taxidermist to mount the animals 
himself or some one with sufficient knowledge to supervise the carrying 
out of this work. It was, therefore, decided to send the Society’s Assistant 
Curator to England in this connection. We are fully convinced that the 
course adopted will be of extreme advantage to the Museum. 
As regards the remaining galleries funds wdll not allow of our touchinor 
these until we have completed the Mammal Gallery. When this is finished 
it is proposed to take up the Bird Gallery and then the remaining sections. 
Many members will be wondering about the old rooms in Anollo 
Street, clinging to which are a host of memories. These are and wilf still 
continue to be the offices and headquarters of the Society and here will 
still be housed the reference collections. Except for the giving up of one 
room, and sundry gaps and vacancies on the walls caused by the trans- 
ference of trophies to the Prince of Wales Museum (these gaps are being 
rapidly filled however) the old rooms continue the same as formerly. In 
perpetuani memoriam, we publish the photo of the room no longer tenanted 
by the Society. 
Bombay Natural History Society, IWi .June 1922. 
