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SPECIAL REPORTS. 1. Some Principles of Museum Administration affecting the Future Development of the Dominion Museum. By J. Allan Thomson, Director : — Page I. Need of a Definite Plan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 11. Functions of a Museum— Special Functions of the Dominion Museum .. .. .. .. 10 Responsibilities of the Dominion Museum for Research Work .. ..10 Museum Extension Work.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..11 111. The Threefold Division of Museum Collections .. .. .. .. ..11 IV. The Acquisition of Specimens .. .. .. ..12 V. Scope of the Dominion Museum Collections .. .. .. .. 13 New Zealand History .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. II! Ethnology and Ethnography .. '.. .. .. .. .. 13 Zoology .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 14 Representative Systematic Collection .. .. .. .. .. 14 Comparative Research Collection .. .. .. .. . . 14 Spocial Synoptic Collections .. .. .. .. . . . . 15 Botany .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Geology .. .. .. .. ~ . . .. .. 15 Representative Stratigraphical Collection of Fossils .. .. . . 15 Reference Collection of Minerals .. .. .. .. .. 15 Special Exhibits of Minerals .. .. .. • .. .. Hi Reference Collection of Rooks .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Technology .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Hi Fine Art .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. Iβ Dominion Scientific, Art, and Historical Library .. .. . . .. 10 VI. Museum Staff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..17 General Considerations .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 17 Honorary Curators .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..17 Museum Guides .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Proportions of Staff and Expenditure .. .. .. .. .. 18 VII. Museum Control .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 VIII. Conclusion .. .. .. ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 2. Collections available for the Dominion Art Gallery. By J. McDonald, Art Assistant: — The Monrad Collection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1!) The Chevalier Collection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 The Dominion Museum Collection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 The Now Zealand Academy of Fine Arts Collection .. .. .. .. .. 20 The National Collection .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . 20 Sculpture .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 20 Some Considerations for Future Guidance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 3. The Existing. State of the Tuatara (Sphtsnodon punctatus Gray), with BOMB Noras on its Habits. By J. Allan Thomson, Director, Dominion Museum : — Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Numbers, Increase or Decrease, and Enemies .. .. .. . . . . . . 22 Colour and Markings .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 25 Size .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Lairs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Eggs and Development .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Nocturnal Habits .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2(> Partial Hibernation .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Immobility in Captivity .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2(i General .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20

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