Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-10-17
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

DOYLE was brought there aud boy and horse
were soon on their way back 30 Rutland
THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Two years ago at a meeting held IN the
lower town hall the Brattlebcro society of
Natural History was organized. The chief
aim Of the society, as stated at that time,
was 10 establish a museum of Natural His
tory which should represent the depart
ments of geology, zoology, and botany, ami
which should be 80 classified and arranged
as TO afford means Of instruction 10 the
general public, and particularly 10 the pu-
pills Of the public schools, IN natural science.
Through the generosity Of the Brooks Ii
brary building trustees arrangements were
perfected for placing the museum perma
nently in that building. and a room designed
by Mr. Brooks for that purpose was grant
ed. Later the north room upon the main
floor was added Arrangements for the
construction Of suitable cases TO receive the
collection were also made by the trustees.
The membership Of he society now in
cludes about 20 Remembers and l2j regu
lar members the former paying ten dollars
and the latter one dollar annually. Out of
this fund many unique specimens have
been added 10 the museum, aud lecture
was provided for last year Most Of the
collections contained in the museum have,
however, been presented From the Smith
sonian Institution in behalf Of the United
States Fish commission, the society has OBJ
tanned large collection Of marine inverte
brates, and in behalf Of the National mu-
scum a representative series of the leading
minerals Of the country. Through the Bo-
ton Society Of Natural History several geo
logical collections have come, while from p1i
vste sources the larger part Of the museum
has been derived Dr. VIM. y. Clark has
presented large geological and geological
collection, including specimens OF lava
from Nesuvius and Altna, Of iuorlte from
Durham county, England, Of quart from
Switzerland and Of fossils from various pUr
tons Of the country Mr.. Frank GOodhue
has presented collection of bird skins
from Florida. Miss jeanette Howe numerous
marine forms from Bermuda, Mr. Paul
Schuster minerals and fossils from the West.
Mr.. q. l.. Clsry native birds and mammals.
Mr. L. ~ Howe "a large slab Of fossil foot
prints, Mrs. DuntOn a collection Of Florida
shells, while many smaller gifts have come
from other sources.
Miss Mary Cabot and Miss Susan Clark
gave the money for the purchase Of the
models Of Mts Blanc aud Nesuvius In ad
dition ~ these gifts the society has been
promised by Mr. Wells Frost the indefinite
loan Of the large and valuable herbarlum
collected by ms father. the late e. O. Frost
and which contains many of the types and
forms described by him: also Mr. George
Pratt has offered 10 deposit with the society
his collection Of birds eggs
These specimens have been classified by
/ TAs .
The north room on the main floor contains
Il large glass-front case IN which Mr. Clary
has arranged the birds and mammals pur
chased lately from dealer m Burlington.
though many Of the specimens are the gift
Of Mr.. Clary himself In this case Is d
collection Of skeletons showing the yaria
tons IA the various vertebrate types. An
other large case is ready IN place 70 receive
the Frost herbarium which is being pre-
pared 10y Mr.. Henry A Chaplin
/ a third case contains portion OF the
/ geological collection, aud here is 10 be found
/ representative series Of rocks some
beautiful minerals from England, SwItzer
land aud the Rocky mountains fossil
fish from Wyoming fossil plants from
! Pennsylvania, including specimen of the
oldest known form casts of the fore feet
I Of early types Of the existing horse. one OF
/ which had three hoofs on each foot cast,
/ of the teeth of the mastOdOu, mammoth
megatherIum and other extinct animals
/ crystal models Of the four largest diamond.
/ and a bomb of lava elected from Aetnu 30
] 1863. L pom the mantel piece Is "a cullec
/ ton of the different varieties OF Nernout
marbles presented by the NermUnt Marble
company. a cast Of the largest gold nugget
/ everfound, weighing ls3 BIS and valued at
/ S4l 900, and cast Of gigantic sala
mander found IA Germany Ia the last cent
/ ury, and long thought to be the remains oi
a man and cited 10y early scientists as eyi
dence Of the flood
In the room down stairs Is to be found
the larger part of the museum A lArg,
case IN the centre of the room contains ia
the upright portion the geological collec
tiohs among which, properly classified, ar
the marine invertebrates preserved IN alc9
mol IN glass bottles. A collection OF ell
iarged models Of the microscopic protozoa
the smallest of animal forms. Is found al
one end of the case, while at the other ar,
casts of the skulls of the different races
together with the skulls Of the chimpanze'
and gorilla
In the lower portion of the case upon
the side facing the window. Is the palaeou
resentative fossils from the oldest rocks o.
the earths crust down to the latest UpoI
the opposite side Is the mineral collection
obtained from the Smithsonian Institution
and other specimens illustrating specia
points in the physical constitution Of min
erals. Around the walls are collections
chiefly geological, among which. one ub
tanned from the Boston society Of NAtura
History, contains the more important mate
rails Of economic value, including buildiu.
stones ores aud economic minerals othe
than ores. Beneath the windows are tn,
models Of Mts. Blanc aud Nesuviu-, and III,
slab containing fossil reptiliau footprints
The museum As will be seen by tins brie
description OF its contents mas already a.
CURED considerable proportions and will b
certain 10 attract many gifts 10 itself IN tn
immediate future
The new map of Brattleboro aud viciui
ty, recently prepared by the United state
geological survey, should be mentioned il
this connection, as the survey OF this I'm
mediate region was due 70 d petition pre-
scented by the Brattleboro society of Natur
al History 10 the directors of the mite.
States geological survey
Taken altogether the growth of the col
lection in so short time has been remark
able, aud It now furnishes such an oppor
tunity as can be found IN few places out
side the great museums for the study q
natural science 1t is of value aud intere.
TO every intelligent citizen of Brattlebor,
and Is specially so 10 the pupils of the put
lie schools as an object lesson in their stuC
/ les. Its growth could but be highly graf
tying 10 Mr. George Brooks were he anon
the living TO see in what a happy and u.s.
"A NAV hh off ks- 4 -
public benefit 1t is a matter of simp
justice to DR.. VIM. b Clark to say that b
has given his time in vacation and his di
tinguished attainments freely to the cole,
ton and arrangement of these specimen
Without this source 10 draw from sue
progress in so short time would nav
been impossibla