LIFE OF FLOWER 13 



strong protest against the evils caused by the corset 

 among European females, illustrating his remarks with 

 a ghastly figure of a female skeleton distorted by the 

 undue pressure of that fashionable article of costume. 



In 1871, and again in later years, Professor Flower 

 acted as Examiner in Zoology for the Natural Science 

 Tripos at Cambridge, where his suave and dignified 

 manner, and innate courtliness rendered him as great a 

 favourite as in the Metropolis. He was during some 

 portion of his career Examiner in Anatomy at the Royal 

 College of Veterinary Surgeons. 



Flower's official connection with the museum of the 

 Royal College of Surgeons was brought to a close by 

 Owen's resignation of the Post of Superintendent of the 

 Natural History Department of the British Museum, 

 when it was felt by all that the efficient and successful 

 administrator of the smaller museum in Lincoln's Inn 

 Fields, was the one man specially fitted in every way to 

 have supreme charge of the larger establishment in the 

 Cromwell Road. Professor Flower was accordingly 

 selected by the three principal trustees the Archbishop 

 of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, and the Speaker of 

 the House of Commons to fill this important post, into the 

 duties of which he entered during the same year. His ad- 

 ministration of the museum which lasted until he was 

 compelled by failing health to send in his resignation a 

 few months before his death is fully discussed in the 

 fourth chapter, and was in every way a complete success. 



During his long and successful official career Sir 

 William was the recipient of a number of honours (in 

 addition to the medals he received for his Crimean 

 service), and he was likewise on the roll of the more 



