thrown open to the public in the new gallery :
 

• Myrmecobius fusciatus, the banded ant-eater from the Coolgardie-road, presented by Mr. Frank Reed ;
• a large carpet snake, a dab-chick, and a delicate owl by Mr. F. H. Hayllar ;
• two specimens of jarrah, in excellent preservation, although portions of
• piles over 30 years in Bunbury Harbor, by the Hon. R. W. Hardey, M.L.C. ;
• a white-goshawk, by Mr. S. O’Grady, of Kimberley ;
• an Echidna aculeata, the native porcupine, by Mr. E F. Robins of Newcastle ;
• auriferous quartz from the Rand, South Africa, by H. Taylor Esq. ;
• a small carpet snake by Mr. J. W. Harris.

The latter is mounted on the branch of a fig-tree in the act of swallowing a silver-eye. These are quite harmless and in fact, useful friends to fruit-growers and so should be protected instead of being wantonly destroyed. If there be any poisonous snakes in the colony specimens will thankfully accepted ; in fact, any mammals, birds, reptiles, or fish addressed to the Curator will be set up at once by the Taxidermist, Mr. Otto Lippert [sic], and duly acknowledged to the donor both by letter and on the labels in the Museum. Specimens of minerals, rocks and ores and also native weapons and implements will be gladly received.

In the ethnological room the walls are hung with several excellent
paintings by well-known artists. This is only a temporary art gallery, as
the plans for the new one have been issued, and work will be commenced as
soon as the Government has voted the necessary money, which is expected to
be placed on the Estimates next session. One of the recent additions to
the gallery is a copy of Rembrandt’s “Old Woman,” by Mrs. Potter, of
London. The original has been on exhibition in the National Gallery,
London, during the past 30 years. The copy was purchased a short time ago,
and is now awaiting framing and hanging. Another purchase made by the
committee is the work of Mr. G. Pitt Morrison [sic], of Victoria, and is
entitled “Springtime.” Mr. Morrison has lent to the gallery a very good
copy of Velasquez’s English dwarf. Dr. Harvey has also lent the Gallery a
pretty little water-colour painting of the delicate alamanda flower. This
work is by Miss F. J. Bayfield of Norwich. A number of statues have been
ordered for this room, and will shortly arrive.

Mr. Lippert [sic] is the taxidermist of the department, and his work is
most satisfactory, A chimpanzee, set by him has lately been added to the
collection, and a large kangaroo, which was shot 40 miles from Gin Gin, a
spider monkey from South Africa, an antelope, a gazelle from Africa, and a
lion, will shortly be added. When these are placed on exhibition the
collection will be a most interesting one. There is already displayed in
the Museum a large collection of the Western Australian fauna, most of
which were shot by Mr. Lippert [sic] himself.

The number of cases for holding mineralogical specimens has been from 20
to 30, and the collection is now becoming more complete. On one side of
the main aisle of the big room are ranged the cases containing Western
Australian exhibits, and on the other those from abroad. The cases have
been made after the latest patterns, and specimens being well arranged,
those who are interested in mineralogy have a good opportunity of becoming
acquainted with the various classes of ores, precious stones found here,
and the great gold, silver, and precious stones producing countries of the
world. The gold specimens from the Coolgardie and neighboring fields have
recently almost doubled in number, through the kindness of Mr. Vosper, who
has presented the Museum with a well-assorted collection. It is greatly
owing to the exertions of Mr. Woodward that the Museum has reached such an
advanced stage in so short a time, and when all the exhibits he possesses
are put in their places, an excellent little collection of the curiosities
of the world in general, and Western Australia in particular, will be on
view.