Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 8.djvu/478

462 of these specimens, in the preparation of skins and the mounting: of skeletons. The chief osteologists and taxidermists were brought from Europe, and their salaries are more than is received by many an assistant professor.

In alcohol are fishes and reptiles, such as the Lepidosteus, Polyodon, and Amia, of our Western rivers, the Calamoichthys of Africa, the Siren and Amphiuma of South Carolina, and the Proteus of Europe; while in dry, upper rooms hang hundreds of skins of quadrupeds, large and small, from all parts of the world, and carefully labeled.

The excellence and trustworthiness of the work done by Prof. Ward are further attested by the extent to which he is employed by the Smithsonian Institution, the Cambridge Museum, and others both here and abroad. Indeed, it is no unusual thing for material to come from Europe to Rochester, and be returned to some Continental museum.

But, while gladly commending what is done, we would offer a suggestion as to what might be done with great advantage to our educational institutions and a fair profit to Prof. Ward:

1. Such an establishment should supply the lower vertebrates, the lamprey and particularly amphioxus, of which, also, sections might be prepared for the microscope.

2. There should be kept, or prepared to order, series of embryos of some common animals: among mammals the pig, and among batrachians the frog, are very easily obtained. All embryos are, in some respects, more valuable than adults, and, if they were on hand, a demand would surely arise.

3. A series of brains should be added. The models of these, whether plaster or papier-maché, are poor substitutes for the real specimens. Nor need the number be very large; a dozen species would fairly illustrate the modifications of the vertebrate encephalon.

Speaking of brains, we cannot forbear expressing the hope that Prof. Ward may shortly be able to impress his clients with the truth of Prof Wyman's saying that "a skull is doubled in value by cutting in two." The inside is quite as important as the outside, while such vertical bisection, if carefully made, enables us to secure the two halves of the brain but little injured.

4. Other anatomical preparations of soft parts, sections and dissections, are really desired for instruction, and a few typical preparations could readily be made.

5. Finally, we would suggest to Prof Ward the expediency of