14
ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS.
principally casts, illustrating the famous case of the Ancestry of
the Horse.
To all these collections which bear on natural evolution great
value is imparted by the long descriptive labels, which have
been drawn up by Mr. W. Cole. Not only here but all over the
museum there are large labels and tablets, admirably composed,
which make the collections self-interpreting, and offer to the
visitor, who cares to read them, an excellent epitome of informa-
tion on many branches of natural history. It is probable that
by the casual visitor as he hurries through the museum they are
unread and unheeded. Even the student who lingers over them
may have but a faint notion of the labour involved in their
composition. To put a scientific statement concisely yet clearly
and in popular language is a task, the difficulty of which is
known only to those who have had to face it. The labels in our
museum are neat and legible, being either printed or type-
written, whilst they appeal by their simplicity of expression to
that unscientific individual, our familiar friend, who passes now-
adays as the "man in the street." An American has said that
our labels ought to be clear enough to "attract the newsboy and
the boot-black."1' I hardly think our critic would find much
fault in this respect at Stratford.
The prime object of the Essex Museum is, of course, to
illustrate the natural history of the county. The greater
part of the Invertebrata are represented by a large and
valuable collection of shells, crustacea, insects and other
objects which are, or will be, preserved in two mahogany
cabinets that have recently been placed in the museum. These
beautiful cabinets contain upwards of 100 glass-topped drawers,
each having a stop at the back so that it may be partially drawn
out by the visitor, and its contents inspected without fear of
damage. In this way the specimens will be preserved from
deterioration by exposure to light, and yet remain freely accessible
to the public.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the curator there are still
many gaps in the local collection, and members of the Essex
Field Club may be reminded that they have it in their power to
render the museum very material aid by contributing from the
spoils which they collect. Addressing the members of the
14 Mr. Harlan J. Smith on "Popular Museum Exhibits." Museums Association Report
of Oxford Meeting. 1897. p. 65.