Abstract
THE first Natural History Museum in. Iraq, which is under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Education, was established early in 1946. The formal opening by the Regent of Iraq took place on May 2, 1946. The Museum consists of three main departments at present. (1) Zoological Department : the present exhibits in this department represent most of the avifauna of Iraq, as well as small collections of Iraqi mammals, reptiles, fishes and invertebrates. (2) Botanical Department : in this department plaster models of Iraqi fruits and vegetables are exhibited. There are also specimens of plant products, economic plants, plant diseases, etc. (3) Geological Department : in this department two of the oil companies operating in the country have participated in presenting its exhibits. The Iraq Petroleum Co. presented a cement model of the geological structure of the Kirkuk oilfields, as well as specimens of rocks, crude oil, and fossils found in Iraq. The Rafidain Oil Co. presented a model of an oil refinery, specimens of oil products, a model of a Ley land motor oil-tanker, a lubricating oil unit, a petrol filling pump, and various photographs and diagrams. The Museum is seeking to establish contacts with similar museums elsewhere, and. to exchange information and publications with them. All communications should be addressed to the Director, Iraq Natural History Museum, Baghdad, Iraq.
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Iraq Natural History Museum. Nature 159, 703 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/159703d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/159703d0