The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
A NOTED HARVARD MUSEUM
Rare Opportunities for Study ing
Comparative Zoology.
Founded by the World Renowned
Naturalist, Louis Agassiz-Features
Exhibited in Its Various Depart
ments-DispIay of American Fauna

BOSTON, Feb. Sit is a matter of in
terest to all Americans that SO eminent
an authority as the distinguished English
naturalist, alfred Russell Wallace. the
friend and scientific associate of Darwin.
has found in this country, in the Museum
of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, the
nearest approach to his ideal of what
such museum should be. The Harvard
Museum, says DIR. Wallace, in his latest
volume Studies Scientific and Social"
sis far in advance OF ours as an educa-
tional institution, either as regards the
general public, the private student, or the
speciaIist''-a comparison which he be-
lieves would hold true with regard not
only to the English but the Continental
museums generally.
The Museum of Comparative Zoology is
a monument to the originality and
breadth of mind OF its founder, Louis
Agassiz. and the untiring generosity of
his son, DR.. Alexander Agassiz. by whom
for many years it has been in large part
sustained. 1t is significant tribute. in
deed. TO the memory of the great Swiss,
and to his son s years of labor, that pop
ularly Il is known, almost universally, as
the "Agassiz Museum" II is a part now
of the University Museum, which includes
collections in botany mineralogy, palae-
anthology, and ethnology as well as in
zoology. 1t comprises singularly per-
feet geological library, well-equippe1 lab
oratories. vast and steadily increasing
collections OF dried and alcoholic speci-
mems. covering the whole range of the an
imal kingdom, for the use of students
and a series OF public exhibition rooms to
the collections in which, and their ar
rangement. DR.. Wallace calls the special
attention of his readers.
To go through these exhibition rooms
with DR.. Wallace's book in hand is in
deed, to understand, however ignorant OF
zoology one may be, some part of his en-
thusiasm. The museum is plainly differ
ent from the run of museums. Il aims to
collect, as he points out, everything of
geological value; but it exhibits only
those objects which are perfect in their
kind and-more important-only those
few, comparatively speaking. which are
necessary to illustrate the order of na-
ture, explained by modern science.
Its interest, therefore, is simple and
clear, and everyone who takes ordinary
pains to understand its arrangement
leaves it with a distinct and intelligent
idea, however rudimentary, OF the subject
which it illustrates.
IN an article written some years before
visiting the Museum of Comparative 20
oiogy, DR.. Wallace had named crowding
and distraction as two of the chief evils
In ordinary museums. The latter is
largely the result Of the great size Of the
galleries. At Harvard there is but one
large room, necessary for the proper dis
play of the rertebrates in a single intelli-
gible group The others are comparativ
Iy smaIl-about s0x3o feet-but since each
To-
they are amply sufficient in plan which
requires significance of selection rather
than great numbers Of specimens.
Contents o1 the synoptIc Noon.
The first room that the visitor enters
the only public room on the ground floor
is the So called "Synoptic Room" which
is, indeed, the whole museum in little, so
far as its central idea is concerned All
the branches of zoology, are here repre-
sented-the vertebrstes, unollEsks. artic-
ulates. radiates, and protocol, each with
its divisions and subdivisions, so that
from this room alone. by the aid OF its ad-
mirably systematized arrangement and
its clear and Instructive labelling. one
may acquaint ones self with the b-oad
outlines of the whole science Of zoology
and, by the Introduction of a few we'll
chosen fossils, the relations OF present
WIN past lie. since IL Illustrates so we'll
the purpose of the museum. II is interest
ing 10 quote from DR.. Waliaee's book the
paragraph in which he sums up its ad-
yantages.
THE special features to be noted in This
rooIn," he says, are that its contents
and purposes are clearly indicated to
every visitor. each group and each speci-
men being also well and descriptiYely
labeled that every specimen is good and
perfect, weli-mounted, and beautiful or
Interesting in itself; that skeletons exh'b-
fling some of the difference OF structure,
and fossils exhibiting some OF the strange
forms of earlier ages OF the world, are
placed along with stuffed specimens; and,
lastly, that the specimens are compare
lively few In number. not crowded to-
gether and so arranged and grouped as
to show at the same time the wonderfully
varied forms OF animal life, as well IS the
unity of type that prevails in each OF the
great primary groups under very difIer-
ent external forms.
I'VE here see," DR.. Wallace continues.