Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 75.djvu/229

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With respect to the arrangement of the specimens on the shelves Peale says:

It is not customary in Europe, it is said, to paint skies and landscapes in their cases of birds and other animals, and it may have a neat and clean appearance to line them only with white paper, but on the other hand it is not only pleasing to see a sketch of a landscape, but by showing the nest, hollow, cave or a particular view of the country from which they came, some instances of the habits may be given.

This idea is interesting because it is the one that is growing in favor in the museums of Europe and America at the present time.

In 1792 Peale writes:

Having exerted myself to my utmost ability to collect and preserve articles for the museum and believing I could get men of distinction to form a board of visitors and obtain legislative aid for the further improvement of it so that at last it might become a great national institution, I waited on several gentlemen.