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without any wall cases whatever; each species should be 
mounted in a box case, with dust-proof moveable back, glass 
front, with accessories showing the habitat of each species, 
the adult, $ and $ , young in several stages, and summer 
and winter plumage should be illustrated. The cases would 
be made of various sizes, but capable of forming blocks when 
piled together, but with the lines of division level. Anyone 
who has seen Mr. Booth’s splendid collection at Brighton 
cannot help being struck with the great difference between 
such a style as I have pointed out, and which, I am delighted 
to say, is fast being adopted at South Kensington, and the 
old-fashioned skin-and-bonesentinels placed in cases, generally 
so crowded as to frustrate the proper examination of any 
individual specimen. 
Local Societies and Local Museums. 
The one great reason whv I advocate the formation of 
o %J 
local Natural History Museums is, that a considerable portion 
of the labours of this and kindred societies may be of some 
practical service and lasting benefit, diffusing their knowledge 
for the public good, as well as leaving a legacy to the next 
generation of naturalists. Now most of the work undertaken 
at the present time is of a purely personal character, each 
pursuing his studies and observations for his own advancement 
and edification. I imagine that what delights the one will 
in all probability the many ; and, as the results of such labours 
are now often lost, or scattered beyond recovery, it stands 
to reason that if these divided efforts could be preserved 
and systematically brought under the notice of the masses, 
a vast amount of good would be done both intellectually 
and morally, for few pursuits tend more to elevate the 
mind than Natural History. 
Hugh Strickland on Local Societies. 
I should like you to hear the opinions of one who sacrificed 
himself in the cause of Natural Science. I refer to Hugh 
Strickland. As to the duties incumbent upon local Natural 
History Societies, he says :—“ The formation of clubs for the 
investigation of local Natural History also began to take up 
new ground. These are of much importance. The preserva¬ 
tion of the condition of the present physical characters of our 
country will be far more dependent on them than at first 
sight appears. The last fifty years have made a great change 
in the surface of the country; population has increased ; so 
has agricultural improvement, plantations, drainage, enclosure 
of waste lands, in short, artificial works of every kind. These 
