Publisher's Synopsis
In this fascinating book Te Papas science team of experts showcase 100 collection objects that demonstrate the breadth and depth of the collection and the museums important ongoing research. Te Papas expert curators and collections managers tell the fascinating stories of everything from the colossal squid to the flaming flagfins and from sea spiders to beaver fleas. Since the Colonial Museum opened in 1865 and the first director, Sir James Hector, began collecting items of geological and natural history significance, the collections of New Zealands national museum have become enormously significant - not to mention enormous.
