THE MUSEUM

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1930, Page 7

THE MUSEUM

EXCHANGE OF ARTICLES

OVERSEAS RELATIONSHIP.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. The discovery some time ago in tne stomacn of a groper caught off Knikoura of four specimens of shrimps of a rare type is likely to prove of considerable benefit to the Canterbury Museum. x'rofessor R. Speight, curator of tne Museum, stated yesterday that the shrimps were submitted to the late Dr Chilton, but he was unable to identify them, and on his suggestion they were sent to an expert in South Australia, who also returned them, saying that he could not identify them. They were then sent to Dr de Man, of Holland, who is recognised throughout the world as an authority on Crustacea, He identified them in the proceedings of the Linnean Society, London. Since then Dr. de Alan has died and his collection has been handed over to the Zoological Museum at Amsterdam As a result of the correspondence that has takn. place concerning these specimens the Amsterdam Aluseum has asked the Canterbury Musesum to exchange New Zealand articles for specimens from the Dutch East Indies, a valuable relationship having thus been established, Professor Speight said that at present moa bones were rather a drug on the market as far as exchanging them (for specimens from other countries was concerned. Recently he had circularised a number of museums offering to exchange moa bones, but the only reply he liad received was from Mauritius. That indicated that moa bones were no longer in great demand, but as a result of the exchange with the Mauritius Museum some interesting specimens would be added to the Canterbury Museum.. The specimens now most in" demand for exchange purposes are penguins, keas and kiwis, and some important additions to the museum have been made as a result of sending them to other countries. Some years' ago moa bones were in great demand'in other countries and the collection of exhibits in the Canterbury Museum was considerably strengthened by the exchange of the bones of moas.