NATIVE BIRDS

Evening Star, Issue 20666, 13 December 1930, Page 13

NATIVE BIRDS

MUSEUM'S IMPROVED DISPLAY v ARTISICALLY ARRANGED CASES Since tlio "Willi Fels winy at tlio *, Otago University Museum was opened -i‘ it Ims been.possible to .cairango many ■ ol the exhibits in tho old building in ■ such a way as to give visitors a better chance of making a thorough inspection of tlie various displays. One important improvement has taken cpnctcfo shape as a result of a recent decision (to bring down all the native birds oi !Xow Zealand from the top,gallery and group them in a lino senes; of cases situated in the -north wing of the ground floor. In accordance with the new plan, Mr E. H. Gibson, F.Z.S. (taxidermist to the Museum) lias been busy supervising the remodelling of the native .bird display, and under , his expert direction a most attractive department of the institution has jiist been established. On Monday the ne\y branch ■ will bo open to tho public. A surprising point about, the change is that the removal of a large number of New Zealand birds from the top .■ gallery seems in no way to have detracted from the beauty of the oimjnal collection. By iudieious thinning out and artistic rearrangement Mr -* Gibson has even succeeded in adding to the fascination of the overseas groups, the extra spacing making it • easier *for students of bird life to ex- !■ amine the objects in detail. The netv native bird gallery is un- : usually cbm plot e. for, in addition to r - the birds themselves, there arc skeletons and eggs pertaining to practically every species and type. , .tastefully arranged in cases, the exhibits make a > truly wonderful display. * One large case which stands but near the centre. ■ of the floor has been reserved entirely for sea birds of the type -which are to , bo found in New Zealand waters. Albatrosses and petrels,, wnich occupy

pride of place, are seen iu various attitudes, such as Hying, in repose, or ' mi nests. Very fine collections of pengums, terns, shags, and pelicans are : ’ also on display, while the space in ’ other cases is devoted to such specimens as wekas, rails, and cranes. Kiwis, the wingless birds now rather famed for their emblematic- attributes, ’ are nicely set out, Avhilc > the wellknown duck and geese species, as well as hawks and herons, , are also given •wall-deserved attention. In the centre of the hall stands a - hirgo and particularly, bright case. This contains the narrot group, the ' kakapo, the kaka, tlio kea. the cuckoo, and the tui. An attractively-arranged - ; display one sido of_ the case _ shows ■ colourful perching birds' in different attitudes. Another case reveals giant ■ swamp hens set up alongside skeletons of their own types; hero one also finds specimens of birds that arc f cither rare . or extinct—e.g., the buia, the saddlo- . back, the stitch bird, the native quail, - and the island wren. A large wall case contains a comprehensive, collection of native bird skeletons, arranged scientifically against a black background, ; which ,throws the objects into clear rc-j •lief. : No ■ fewer than sixteen cases or } eggs complete a wonderful display. This fascinating corner of the ' Museum also houses,a splendid collection of New Zealand'minerals, as well as a huge and most illuminating case •which, in addition to giving a beautiful representation of an Antarctic cven- • ing at Mount Erebus, contains among other specimens an interesting group of /birds peculiar to the pojar seas. - From tho point of ,view of students of ornithology, exhibits arc most attractive, for Mr Gibson has seen to it '-that each specimen is so placed that it : can bo scientifically examined. , The whole gallery is a decided- credit to the Museum’s taxidermist.