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have devoted time and thought to the exhibition of palaeontological, 
geological, and mineral ogical material. He is grateful to other Govern- 
ment departments for assistance, and would mention particularly the 
Northwest Territories Branch and the National Parks Branch, Department 
of the Interior, and the Department of Indian Affairs. He thanks most 
cordially the many individuals and organizations who have made donations 
or exchanges and who have rendered gratuitous assistance in scientific 
research. Special mention should be made of a donation from the estate 
of the late Dr. H. M. Ami of valuable collections of fossils, archaeological 
material, and books. Mr. C. J. L. Rickwood was loaned by the National 
Parks Branch to transcribe folk songs from phonograph records. 
This opportunity is taken, also, to express appreciation on behalf 
of the officials of the Museum and the public in general of the services 
rendered by the members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who 
are stationed in the Museum building. The courtesy, dignity, and fine 
appearance of these men have been very favourably commented upon 
by visitors, and particularly by those who have had much experience 
with museums. 
MUSEUM SURVEY 
Of interest to the administrative bodies of the various museums of 
Canada is a survey of Canadian museums made during the summer of 1931 
by Sir Henry Miers and Mr. S. F. Markham, of the Museums Association, 
London, England. The time available for the survey was short, a very 
considerable part of it was of necessity spent in travel, and the time that 
could be spent in investigating at first hand the scope and methods of work 
of any one institution must have been disappointingly brief. The visit of 
these distinguished men has, however, in all probability been inspiring, 
particularly to the staffs of the smaller museums, and it is expected that 
the report on the survey will present valuable and practicable suggestions 
towards the improvement of museum work in Canada under existing 
conditions and towards the betterment of the conditions. It is to be hoped 
that such a report will have wide distribution in Canada and will result in 
creating in this comparatively new country an appreciation of the value 
of museums in the economic and cultural phases of national development. 
The following paragraph demonstrates Mr. Markham’s realization of the 
importance of properly conducted museum work : 
ia Tke world is athirst for knowledge today as it probably never has been since the 
Renaissance .... Moreover, never before in the world did the working man enjoy 
such short working hours or such opportunities for the profitable use of leisure. He nas 
been taught to read; the wireless is teaching him to hear; and there are signs that he is 
eager to understand and to appreciate the things that he can see. I am convinced that 
the museum movement, if it can expand its ideas to meet modem requirements, can be- 
come one of the greatest cultural forces in the world, teaching men to see life clearly and 
to see life whole.” 
The National Museum is highly appreciative of the fine spirit of co- 
operation shown by Canadian and foreign museums. The herbarium has 
been enriched by the acquisition of valuable collections of plants, in 
'Markham, S. F,: “Impressions of American Museums"; The Museums Journal, vol. 31, p. 442 (1932), 
