Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-02
The UNIVERSITY MUSEUM.
Some Of the Interesting ThinKs Which
May Bs seen Therein.

As many readers probably have not
much idea of the extent and value Of the
collections in the museum building of the
University the following statement in re-
gard to them, copied from the college
catalogue, will be of interests:
On the first floor Is the Neurological
collection. which contains several thou
sand specimens representing nearly all
the species mentioned In the manuals.
Some of the specimens are unusually fine,
notably a splendid series OF Sicilian sui
phurs, celestites and associated minerals
collected by the Hon. Geo. T.. Marsh, and
n lumber of Hartz Mountains and other
European minerals collected by the Rev.
Edward Hungerford. There Is also an
extensive series of the rocks OF Europe
and a very complete set of the lavas of
Vesuvius, the gift of Mr.. Hungerford.
A nearly complete set Of the rocks and
marbles Of Vermont and several hundred
specimens OF foreign marbles are also
placed in this room, though only n part
can be shown for lack of space. Besides
foreign birds and mammals, there Is near
ly n complete representation or the NAM
mails, birds and fishes native in this
State and a large alcoholic collection OF
the reptiles and fishes OF the United
States. There Is q smaller collection of
mounted skeletons of vertebrates and nu-
merous crania and other bones. including
n perfect lower jaw OF the sperm whale.
Tho nests and Eggs Of many OF the birds
common in Vermont have been obtained
and most of them are arranged In cases,
on this floor Is "a fine has relief, dating
from about SIS b c., taken from one OF tho
palaces at Nlmroud, the gift Of Mr.. Johr
II. Converse.
On the second Moor OF the Museum
building there is a large collection OF
shells made up of selections from the
original Museum collections and from
those of the Hon. l.. II. Chittenden and
Prof. G. w. Benedict, which were giver
to the Museum n few years ago. To these
during the present year the fine colloc
ton of DR.. William G. Hlckok has beer
added. Smaller but good collections ol
corals, echinderms and sponges occupy
cases near tho shells. OF these the liv'
ing forms are in man. cases shown by thu
beautiful Blaschka glass models. On thii
floor also is a collection of fossils which
represents all the geological epochs. som'
OF them very fully. During the pas
year several hundred specimens OF Goa
plants, and some fine Nertobratcs from
tho Tertiary of Kansas and Wyomlns
have been added. In Archaeology TIN
Museum possesses the most complet'
series In existence of Vermont stone, bone
copper, and earthenware objects. az wei
as some thousands of specimens from 9th
ct parts Oh inc lnlttu oldb'S. lHtlt ]
also a fine display OF pre-Columbiai
pottery from Nicaragua. A considerable
number of entire Jars from mounds II
Missouri, several hundred stone inpIe
ments from Ohio. and a collection of Iun
and other Pueblo pottery have just beef
added.
The chronological collection, which ha
recently become OF some Importance. ha
been wholly re-arranged and numerot.
Hnantp,ana nA1nI DURING tho t.npr |
occupies a room recently constructed ant
is worthy Of careful examination. 1t con
tains objects from Australia, Polynesia
Africa and Oriental countries. some o
:. them fine specimens Of the best nativ
workmanship, and also the very fine col
lection of weapons, ornaments, article
OF dress, utensils, etc, of the northern
:, Sioux, collected by Capt. o. II. Reed, L
/, S. A. The interest and value OF the Eth
, biological collection will ere long be great
ly increased by the addition of the man,
supurb specimens of East Indian an
Oriental workmanship, arms. carvings
fabrics, ornaments, etc, bequeathed I
the Museum by the late Mr.. III. LeGran
Cannon, with IL sum OF money s~uficien
+. to provide a suitable room for their re
ception. This Is the most valuable elf
the Museum has ever received.
/. II addition to the collections named tn
Museum has a large herbarium. contain
ing all the plants found In Vermont n
well as thousands Of species from othe
localities. several hundred specimens o
North American and tropical woods,
collection of fruits and seeds, a consider
able collection of insects, and a good col
, lection of ancient Greel, and Roman coins
besides those of most modern nations
None of these are shown in open case,
nor are they all in the cases at the MI
scum building, but they may be examine
by persons interested on application to tn
!, Curator.