LIFE OF FLOWER 67 



before active work on the Index Museum had com- 

 menced. It is a very useful work to the student of the 

 group, although limited to species represented in the 

 Museum collection. 



In the autumn of the year 1895 there occurred, 

 however, an event, which may be said to have 

 revolutionised Flower's position in the Museum, and 

 gave him that immediate personal control over the 

 zoological collections which was essential to the full 

 development and perfection of his scheme of museum 

 reform and expansion. At that date Dr. Albert Giinther 

 retired from the position of Keeper of the Zoological 

 Department ; and it was then resolved by the Trustees 

 of the Museum that this post should be held by 

 Sir William (who, by the way, had been made C.B. in 

 1887 and K.C.B. in 1892), in conjunction with the office 

 of Director. 



This arrangement was continued throughout the 

 remainder of Sir "William's term of office, and was like- 

 wise renewed when he was succeeded by Professor E. 

 Ray Lankester, the present holder of the combined posts. 



This, then, gave Flower, as already stated, the 

 opportunity for which he had so long been waiting; 

 and in January 1 896 he undertook the supervision of the 

 reorganisation and rearrangement of the mammal gallery. 



Here a digression of some length must be made, 

 in order to make the reader acquainted in a certain 

 degree with the conditions then prevalent in the 

 museum in connection with the galleries open to the 

 public. In the first place, as already indicated, while 

 the skins and bones of recent animals were contained 

 and exhibited in the Zoological Department, the remains 



