Editorial

(1)

NATIONAL

1 \/I T T C T T T T 1 \^ NEWS

NASIONALE

1V I U O JL U 1V1

NUUS

OCT/OKT 1983

NO. 25

Editorial staff/Redaksie C O N T E N T S Miss/Mej A. Monnig _{IN H O U D} Page (Editor/ Redaktrise) Dr C.M. Engelbrecht Bladsy Dr C.D. Lynch _{Editorial ...} ₂ M r/M nr J. Haasbroek

Miss/Mej G. Griffith Taksidermie — wat is dit? (J.T. Schutte) ... 3 (Artist/ Kunstenares) _{Vlermuise (J.P. Watson) ...} ₄ Miss/Mej S. Alberts

(Typesetting/Setwerk) Flying m am m als (C.D. Lynch) ... 6

M u s e u m N e w s is a free b i - a n n u a l Bethanie-sendingstasie (D.A. van der Bank) ... 8 newslettfer o f t h e N a t i o n a l M u s e u m , _{Voelberinging Deel 2 (R.A. Earle) ...} ₁₀ P . O . B o x 2 6 6 , B l o e m f o n t e i n , 9 3 0 0 ,

T e l. ( 0 5 1 ) 7 9 6 0 9 . A n y p h o t o g r a p h s or Some clay vessels formerly used by the South Sotho

i n f o r m a t i o n p u b l i s h e d in t h i s (E. du Pisani) ... 12 n e w s l e t t e r m a y b e r e p r o d u c e d w ith

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t o f t h e s o u r c e . Die Reptiele van die Oranje-Vrystaat Deel Ill (J.H.

14

M u s e u m n u u s is ’n g r a t i s s e s - van Wyk) ...

m a a n d e l i k s e n u u s b r i e f v a n d i e _{H o ekom wetenskaplike name? (S. vd M. Louw)} ₁₈ N a s i o n a l e M u s e u m , P o s b u s 2 66.

B l o e m f o n t e i n , 9 3 0 0 , T e l. ( 0 5 1) 7 9 6 0 9 . Florisbad: ’n Beeld van die Oerjagvelde van die

E n i g e f o t o ’s o f i n l i g t i n g in h ie r d ie Vrystaat (J.S. Brink) ... 19 n u u s b r i e f m a g m e t e r k e n n i n g v a n die

b r o n g e r e p r o d u s e e r w o r d . Odds and E nds/S tuk kies en Brokkies ... 20

EDITORIAL

The purpose of a m useum can be sum m ed up by the following fo u r closely related functions: collection, p r e s e r v a t i o n , r e s e a r c h , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d education.

The d e partm ents represented at the National M useum are M am m alogy, Entomology, O rni thology, Herpetology, Acarology, Palaeontology, A nthropology, A rchaeology an d Cultural History. E a c h o f these d e p a r t m e n t s has rese a rc h e rs responsible for the collection and preservation of material, while the art d e p a rtm e n t designs and sets out displays, an d the educational d e p a rtm e n t liases with the public, conducts organized groups an d is responsible for educational program m es. The quality o f research and the close contact between the different d ep artm en ts should determine whether the purpose is achieved. It is therefore essential to study all aspects o f the needs o f every segment of the c om m unity which the m useum is serving. The m useum is in fact the only educational institution that must cater for every person, no m atter what level o f developm ent h e /sh e has reached.

I would like to call on the public to be positive a bout museums, because “the way we think a bout museums in the present will define their future developm ent” (H .R . Singleton). %

A. M onnig

E d it o r

FRONT COVER/VOORBLAD

b y / d e u r G. G ri ffith .