But, in a country where specimens could be procured in the majority of instances in almost any number, it would be of great interest to the lover of science, as well as to the admirer of nature, and also considerably increase the value of the collection and the advancement of scientific knowledge, if, besides among the birds, the male and female specimens being preserved, any showing the changes of plumage, which so frequently occur in the feathered tribe from the juvenile to the adult age; the nest and eggs, together with the skeletons, or any remarkable anatomical peculiarity, should also be preserved. The same system may be adopted with respect to other animals, reptiles, and insects, arranged each under the separate families and genera, so as, in a comparatively short period of time, to form as valuable a collection of Australian natural productions as has ever been collected in any part of the world. Native weapons, utensils, and other specimens of the arts, as existing among the Aborigines, as well as the skulls of the different tribes, and accurate drawings of their peculiar cast of features, would be a desirable addition. At the present time, such might be procured without much difficulty; but it is equally certain, as well as much to be regretted, that the tribes in the settled parts of the colony are fast decreasing, and many, if not all, will, at no distant period, be known but by name. Here, in a public museum, the remains of the arts, &c. as existing among them, may be preserved as lasting memorials of the former races inhabiting the lands, when they had ceased to exist. The botanical productions of the colony may also be kept in a dried state for reference, together with specimens of the woods in different stages of growth. Peculiarities in the economy of any of the animals might be preserved as wet preparations, and to the whole collection, systematically arranged, as well as the scientific, (or hard names, as the ladies call them,) let also the popular, colonial and native names, be attached. The council has liberally granted the sum of two hundred pounds annually out of the colonial funds, for the support of the museum; a hundred and thirty pounds of which is a salary to the collector and staffers of specimens of natural history for the collection, and the remainder is expended for cases, &c.; but encouragement should be held out for donations, as is usual in other public collections.[31] At all events, the commencement of the public museum is excellent; and science, I believe, is indebted for its institution to the Honourable Alexander Macleay, colonial secretary; and may he see it attain an importance which no one can enjoy or appreciate more than himself, who has devoted the leisure moments of a long and arduous life engaged in other important occupations, to the study of the natural sciences.