72 LIFE OF FLOWER 



time, as it is impossible to procure examples of rare or 

 large species, in a condition fit for stuffing, at the 

 precise moment when they are required ; and there is 

 also the question of expense, which becomes very heavy 

 indeed when renovating and replacing a collection of the 

 proportions of that of the National Museum. This 

 portion of the work has therefore been going on 

 uninterruptedly ever since the first start was made, and 

 is indeed being continued at the present time ; for it 

 has been found by experience that a collection of this 

 nature, owing to the terribly bleaching effects of 

 sunlight, requires constant renovation, and that ex- 

 hibited museum specimens have only a definite and 

 limited period, varying to a considerable extent according 

 to the colour and nature of the hair in individual 

 species, during which they are fitted to be publicly 

 shown. Instead of a museum, when once arranged, 

 being " a joy for ever," it requires constant attention 

 and renovation, so that even, to keep them in proper 

 order, the mammal galleries alone in the Natural 

 History Museum demand a large proportion of the time 

 of one of the officials. 



Not the least important of the changes made in the 

 mammalian galleries under the supervision of Sir 

 William Flower was the alteration of the colour of the 

 stands on which the specimens were mounted. These, 

 as already said, were of polished sycamore, the bright 

 reflection from which was exceedingly unbecoming 

 to the specimens, to say nothing of the obvious lack of 

 aesthetic fitness in mounting stuffed mammals upon 

 a polished surface of this nature. Before anything 

 in the way of a change was attempted, Sir William 



