1 62 LIFE OF FLOWER 



smaller islands, and even in these not to have very 

 greatly modified the prevailing cranial characteristics." 



At the meeting of the British Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, held at York in the autumn 

 of 1881, Professor Flower, as Chairman of the Depart- 

 ment, read an address to the Anthropological Depart- 

 ment on the study and progress of anthropology, more 

 especially in this country ; at the conclusion of which 

 he urged the strong claim of the Anthropological 

 Institute of Great Britain and Ireland to the support 

 of all interested in that subject. Three years later 

 (1884) he gave, as President, an address u On the Aims 

 and Prospects of the Study of Anthropology," before 

 the last-named body, at the Anniversary Meeting in 

 January. Here again the speaker directed attention to 

 the comparatively small degree of interest taken in this 

 country in this most important science, and urged that 

 not only scientific students, but wealthy men, ought 

 to do something towards aiding its progress. " Our 

 insular position, maritime supremacy, numerous depen- 

 dencies, and ramifying commerce, have given us," he 

 remarked, " unusually favourable opportunities for the 

 formation of such collections opportunities which, 

 unfortunately, in past times have not been used so 

 fully as might be desired." A change, indeed, it was 

 added, had of late years come over matters in this respect ; 

 but, while fully admitting this, it can scarcely be main- 

 tained that even at the present day we are doing all 

 that we might in this direction. 



Between the years 1879 and 1885 inclusive, Flower 

 appears to have devoted much of his attention to 

 elaborating a satisfactory biological classification of 



