The woodrat nest exhibit in the Walk Across California exhibition.

The Natural Sciences Department collections focus primarily on the native species of California. They include: vertebrate specimens, both whole mounts and study skins, prepared by conventional taxidermy and freeze-drying; entomology, including significant holdings of native Hesperiidae; herbarium sheets covering most of the native plant families; a synoptic collection of California bird eggs; shells from California and other localities; and geology specimens from around the world.

The Natural Sciences Division also houses the Helen Pritchard Snuff Bottle Collection, a collection of over 700 Chinese and Japanese snuff bottles, made of various materials, which date from the 1700s to the present day. Half of the collection is on view on the first level of the museum.

Collections that are available for public use are:

Bob Walker Collection and Archive

	Bob Walker Collection

This photographic collection is the life work of Bob Walker. It consists of 30,000 images taken around the San Francisco Bay Area from the mid 1980s into the early 1990s. They document natural areas, in particular the East Bay Regional Parks, and encroaching urbanization.

Prints are available from the Bob Walker Collection, and rights can be purchased for publication. The collection is available for viewing by appointment; please contact Carolyn Rissanen, Registrar, at 510-238-3884.

California Library of Natural Sounds

	Listening to Nature

This collection of audio recordings is a comprehensive collection of nature sounds with an emphasis on California species and environments. It includes the sounds of specific insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, as well as natural, ambient soundscapes. Portions of this collection are also available online.

Recordings may be purchased for commercial or nonprofit uses, and may be previewed by appointment. For further information contact Carson Bell, curator of the CLNS, at 510-238-7482.