LIFE OF FLOWER 73 



sought the advice of his friend, the late Lord Leighton, 

 after consultation with whom, it was finally decided 

 that in future the stands should be of a good " cigar- 

 colour." This was effected, in the first instance, by 

 scraping and staining the original sycamore stands a 

 work of great labour and expense ; but all new ones 

 were subsequently made of wood more easy to work, 

 walnut being employed in the case of the smaller sizes. 

 Even this improvement, great as it undoubtedly was, 

 did not, however, by any means represent the full 

 extent of the changes in this direction. After a short 

 experience of the aforesaid " cigar-coloured " stands, 

 it was found that the general effect was much improved 

 by gouging out the upper surface of these, with the 

 exception of a narrow rim round the margin, to a 

 depth of a quarter or half an inch, and covering it with 

 a thin layer of sand or earth, upon which leaves, pebbles, 

 etc., might be disposed if required. Instead of 

 "skating on sycamore tables," the animals were by 

 this means shown standing on a very good imitation of 

 a natural land surface. 



Nor was this all. At an early period during the 

 rearrangement of the mammal galleries, Sir William 

 suggested that many of the larger species might be 

 mounted upon imitation ground-work covering the 

 entire floor of the cases in which they were exhibited. 

 This idea was forthwith put into execution in several 

 cases, notably in these containing the lions, the tigers, 

 and the group of fur-seals from the PribilofF Islands, 

 presented by Sir George Baden-Powell. Supposed 

 difficulties with regard to the cleaning of the glass of 

 the cases prevented this plan from being carried out to 



