The New York herald., 1871-04-21


About the first of May the American Mu-
scum of Natural History, which was incorpo-
rated only two years ago, but which already
possesses valuable and extensive collection,
composed entirely Of private contributions,
will be opened to the public.
The second and third stories of the Arsenal
building in Central Park have been devoted to
this museum. Although the proper classified
ton Of the specimens received has not yet
been made, there is such general arrangement
that the visitor may advance gradually from
the study of the lowest forms of animal life
to that of the higher. The chronological col
lection includes the North American insects
contributed by the Baron Osten-Sacken, the
Prussian Consul General in this city; large
number of foreign beetles, given by r. A.
Witthaus, and ten thousand American and
European butterflies and moths, Representing
three thousand species, presented by G. T.
Robinson; six thousand shells from the Spice
Islands, comprising some of the rarest varie-
ties, have been given by A. S. Bickmore, and
W. A. Haines, one of the trustees of the
from different parts of the world. Among
the foreign contributions Is a complete series
of the minerals of the Island of Formosa,
together with specimens of the various
woods found there. There is also q fine
assortment of Florida corals. The entire col
lection Of Prince Macmillan, of Neuwied,
who went to Brazil in 1916, and spent three
years in scientific explorations, has been for
tunately obtained for the Museum, containing
four thousand mounted specimens of South
reptiles, mounted and in alcohol. On the third
floor the collection of North American birds.
purchased from Dr. G.. Elliott, and comprising
three thousand specimens, is exhibited,
together with selections from the collection Of
the celebrated Paris taxidermist, the late NJ.
Verreaux, numbering two thousand eight hun
dred birds, two hundred and twenty mammals,
and four hundred mounted skeletons of man,
mails, BIRDS reptiles and fishes. The group
of animals mounted by M. Verreaux for the
Paris Exposition, at which it won a gold
medal as an exquisite specimen of the taxder-
mist's art, is also on exhibition. Among the
pathological specimens great many North
and South American humming birds and
numerous eagles, pheasants and parrots are
conspicuous. The value of the entire collection
is estimated at one hundred thousand dollars.
An act Of the Legislature requires that the
best specimens Of natural history shall be
selected from all duplicates belonging to the
State and presented to the Museum.
''lt is now intended, says the Erening Post,
which gave Wednesday evening detailed ac
count Of this museum, ''to begin early next
autumn upon Manhattan square the erection
of the permanent building for the Museum Of
Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, which the Department Of Public Parks
was recently authorized to construct, at On
aggregate cost not exceeding $500, 900 for
each. The trustees of the Museum of Natural
History design it to equal, If not surpass, any
similar institution in the world" The Post
adds that when John Edward Gray, Superin-
tendent Of the Geological Department Of the
already secured by the American Museum Of
Natural History, he is said TO have told one OF
Its trustees, then in London, that more had
been accomplished by 1t already than by the
British Museum in the same department dur
ing the first fifteen years of its existence. This
impartial testimony is highly encouraging as
to the success Of our new Museum Of Natural
History. II the movement initiated in favor
OF the introduction Of the study of natural his
tory In our public schools is encouraged, as 1t
ought to be, this museum will prove to be of
inestimable value TO the rising generation In
New York.