Abstract
As it is proposed to remove the Natural History collections from the British Museum to Kensington, I hope care will be taken to make the collections as serviceable as possible to students. In particular the British Department might, with great gain to all, be extended and improved. There is now but one small room devoted to British zoology, and this interesting branch of science is poorly represented by a selection of species not always well chosen nor even strictly indigenous. Still, imperfect as it is, I believe this is the only attempt to present a comprehensive view of the British fauna in London. In the new buildings it is much to be desired that a large and well-lighted gallery should be devoted to the zoology of the British Islands, and as complete a collection as possible exhibited. The specimens should be labelled with local as well as scientific names, and, when desirable, short interesting particulars might be given, as on the labels of the art collection at South Kensington. I think no part of the museum would be so well frequented or so generally appreciated by the public. When the labour of removing the collections is over, I hope we may be furnished with catalogues of different departments, with notes of the time and mode of acquisition, &c., of the most important specimens. If begun for the British collections, it might afterwards be extended to the rest of the museum. The nation, which possesses such truly choice and extensive collections, ought to take care that the advantages to be reaped from them are fully developed and placed within the reach of all.
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L., A. The British Museum Collections. Nature 3, 108 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/003108a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/003108a0
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