66 LIFE OF FLOWER 



of such departures from the ordinary type into the 

 museum justifies, it may be mentioned, the introduction 

 of abnormalities of a more startling nature. Finally, as 

 illustration of a transition from one species towards 

 another, Sir William caused to be set up a series of 

 typical specimens of the common and the hooded crow, 

 together with offspring produced by the union of the 

 two, which are to a great extent intermediate between 

 the parent forms. In the same cases is a series of gold- 

 finches, showing a complete gradation between birds of 

 different coloration, and commonly regarded as belonging 

 to distinct species. 



All the above instances serve to demonstrate, however 

 inadequately, Flower's broad conception of the field 

 to be covered by a national and educational museum, 

 altogether apart from the exhibition of specimens illustra- 

 tive of systematic natural history. It is no secret that 

 Sir William wished to add a series illustrative of the 

 present geographical distribution of animals on the 

 surface of the globe ; but, for lack of space, all that 

 could be attempted in this direction was the exhibition 

 of the British fauna, together with a map displaying the 

 division of the world into zoological regions, according 

 to the scheme of Messrs. Sclater and Wallace. 



For several years, apart from administrative duties, 

 Flower devoted practically the whole of his available 

 time to the elaboration of the Index Museum and the 

 other exhibits in the Central Hall, although he found 

 opportunity to draw up a list of the specimens of 

 Cetacea (whales and dolphins^ in the collection of the 

 Museum, which was published by order of the Trustees 

 in 1885. Probably, indeed, this list was compiled 



