INTRODUCTION. 
17 
of the importance of a Museum solely from the specimens 
exhibited in the public galleries; but it is a source of legiti¬ 
mate pride and satisfaction to all interested in the future 
development of our work that the excellence of the original 
investigations carried out by our officers has spread the 
reputation of this Institution far and wide, into every centre 
where the knowledge of zoology is cultivated^ and its claims 
as a science fittingly recognized. 
I have now placed before you what, I am afraid, cannot 
but be described as a somewhat imperfect history of the 
foundation and growth of the Indian Museum; I have nar¬ 
rated to you, how a century ago a small band of scholars, 
engaged in the study of the history, languages and antiquities 
of this country and determined upon the investigation of its 
natural products, laid the foundation for a Museum in this 
city, entirely with the limited private means at their dis¬ 
posal; how it took the ruling authorities thirty years to 
realize their undoubted responsibilities in this direction, not¬ 
withstanding persistent and oft-repeated reminders; and how 
once the duties of the Government in this matter were fully 
appreciated, arrangements were readily made for the estab¬ 
lishment and gradual development of an Imperial Museum 
worthy of the Metropolis of the Indian Empire. 
I naturally feel tempted at this stage to ask myself, 
whether the institution thus founded, developed, and nur¬ 
tured has fulfilled its mission. I have no desire on the 
present occasion to enter upon an exhaustive discussion of 
the true functions of a Museum in relation to the community 
at large; but a brief consideration of the question may not 
be entirely useless. It is now generally recognized that a 
Museum is an institution for the preservation of those objects 
which best illustrate the phenomena of Nature and the works 
of Man, for the utilization of these in the increase of know¬ 
ledge, and for the culture and enlightenment of the people. 
A National or Imperial Museum must, consequently, be 
equipped adequately for the fulfilment of three principal 
functions, viz. first, for the accumulation and preservation 
of specimens such as form the material basis of knowledge 
