126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Commerce, the exports exceed the imports, and impoverishment 
of the mental soil is the consequence. 
There is another important branch of this Institution which is 
not sufficiently known, and which is comparatively unused. I 
refer to the Museum. Since its enlargement and re-arrangement 
it is well worthy of attention. It is painful to see the listless way 
in which the majority of persons walk through a museum, as 
though it were a something which had to be done but which there 
was no pleasure in doing. Doubtless more might be done to make 
our Museum more attractive. We might have cases, such as are 
to be found in the National History Museum at South Kensington, 
illustrative of the various points which have been treated and 
elucidated by the illustrious Darwin. 
In the entrance-hall of that museum, which serves as a key- 
museum to the other parts, there are cases illustrative of the 
doctrine of Natural Selection. One especially struck me as being 
exceedingly good. It contained thirty different varieties of 
pigeons, which have been all created, so to speak, by Natural 
Selection from one — the wild rock pigeon. The contrast between 
some of them, such as the fantail and pouter, or the short-faced 
Antwerp pigeon, is very marked. In the latter the anatomical 
structure of the skull must be much changed. Gradation in 
ornament is well exemplified by specimens showing how the 
peacock's feathers commence with a very simple form, and 
gradually work up to the gorgeous eye-bearing feather — beginning 
with dark and light bands having no metallic lustre, and again 
shading off into the curiously modified feathers which complete 
the margins of the tail. Darwin says cases of gradation are im- 
portant, as they show that it is at least possible that highly 
complex ornaments have been acquired by small successive steps. 
I much wish our Museum could be made more interesting and 
instructive in the way I have indicated, and by having descriptive 
catalogues published at a low price. I refer to this matter that 
some may be fired with enthusiasm in the cause, and may be 
induced to help us either by labour or by money, which is equally 
wanted to carry out the things I have referred to. 
We want a little of the enthusiasm of Mr. Thomas Hawkins, 
who in his work on Great Sea Dragons thus describes the dis- 
covery of the Chiroligostinus, a species of Ichthyosaurus, at 
Lyme Eegis. He says, " Who can describe my transport at the 
