156 TlMEHRI. 
possible in this climate, and with the means at our disposal, to keep a 
large collection in order in cases which are open to the inspection of 
the general public ; (2ndly) it is impossible to obtain funds sufficient 
to cover the expense of mounting any but a small proportion of the 
specimens obtainable, in a form pleasing to the popular eye ; (3rdly) 
many valuable specimens, especially birds and insects are much more 
safely stored in drawers, awaj r from dust and light. Taking these facts 
into consideration, I now wish to arrange a typical collection of 
mounted specimens, say, for example, specimens of the various genera 
of birds occurring in the colony together with examples of any species 
which form any prominent feature, for general exhibition ; and to 
form a second collection, again, we will say for example, of birds' skins 
of every species occurring, to be preserved in drawers and to be exhi- 
bited to all who may apply either to me, or to the clerk in charge 
of the Museum. I have, therefore, to ask your sanction also to this 
arrangement. 
ordly. I have to allude, though I do not yet feel in a position to 
offer any completely satisfactory suggestion, to the subject of the diffi- 
culty of mounting specimens in the colony. When I was in the colony 
before, having no assistant capable of mounting specimens, I had either 
to employ for that purpose from time to time the very inefficient bird 
stuff ers etc., here, or to send all specimens home. Even at 
that time this arrangement was both inefficient and expensive ; and 
now that H. Pauli, the best of the indifferent colonial bird stuffers, is 
dead, T cannot see how the arrangement is to work at all. Though, as 
I have said, I am not in a position to offer any solution to this difficulty, 
I may state that, having made enquiry from the Secretary of the Zoolo- 
gical Society at home as to the possibility of obtaining a bird skinner 
and collector at small cost, I found that one might be had, from the 
Berlin Museum, for £50 per annum,, his passage money by Direct 
Steamer, and board and lodging while out here. If the Society should 
see its way in meeting me half way, if for instance the Committee of 
Correspondence would undertake to pay the passage money and to pro- 
vide the salary of £50 per annum, 1 think I should be willing, in con- 
consideration of the relief which the services of such a man would 
afford me, to supply board and lodging to the collector. I may point. 
out that according to this arrangement the whole expense to the Society 
would certainly not. be more than the sum which used to be paid, and 
