I don't think anyone's ever mentioned it in this forum, but OSU's Museum
of Biological Diversity holds an Open House every year about this time,
in this case tomorrow, from 10-4, to which the public is invited.
        At this time, many Museum collections invite folks to come in, view
displays, and ask questions of curators and graduate students. Usually
over a thousand visitors--kids are welcome--come by. All the
University's biological collections, except for fossils, are housed in
the Museum, including fishes, plants, insects, molluscs, spiders, birds,
etc. The Open Houses are always lively and intriguing.
        Readers of Ohiobirds are likely to stop by the bird collection, which
is part of the Tetrapods area ('Vertebrates' in the old vernacular). 99%
of the collection is stored away in drawers and boxes in off-limits
areas, but a special display, based on this year's theme "Everybody
Eats," will be up, and staff and volunteers will be available to answer
questions. Mounted birds, many of them from generations ago, generally
lack data such as accompany the specimens in storage, but hundreds of
them are stored in the open, and always stimulate conversation. Giant
sea turtles, jungle cats, and jugged snakes loom in the background.
        The Museum is at 1315 Kinnear Rd on the west side of campus.
Bill Whan
Columbus



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