LIFE OF FLOWER 59 



time added, crystallised) forms. This, it was urged, 

 would constitute an epitome of natural history, and would 

 convey to the eye, in the easiest and most ready manner, 

 an elementary knowledge of the sciences in question. 



In every modification which the plans of the new 

 building underwent, a hall for the purpose indicated in 

 the above passages formed, as Sir William has himself 

 remarked, a prominent feature ; being in the later stages 

 of the development of the building called, for want of 

 a better name, the " Index Museum." 



The increasing infirmities of age, coupled with the 

 short time during which he presided over the Natural 

 History collections in their new home, combined, how- 

 ever, to prevent Owen from making any real progress 

 with the so-called Index Museum; and although he 

 furnished the idea of the scheme and planned the 

 general installation of the hall, the selection and 

 installation of its contents were left to his successor. 

 And, with the vast experience gained by Sir William 

 during his tenure of office in the Royal College of 

 Surgeons, they could not possibly have been left to 

 abler hands. 



Here it is necessary to explain that, whether by 

 design or by accident, history sayeth not, the Index 

 Museum and the Central Hall generally were not 

 included in any one of the four great administrative 

 departments of the Museum, so that they consequently 

 came under the immediate and exclusive control of the 

 Director himself. 



Nor was Flower long in setting to work at the task 

 which thus lay awaiting his master-hand ; and the 

 Index Museum, as fast as the exigencies of finance 



