LIFE OF FLOWER 175 



in Essays on Museums, under the title of " Boys' 

 Museums." It serves to show that Flower considered 

 the aforesaid " collecting instinct " worthy, under cer- 

 tain restrictions, of every encouragement. 



Since the appearance of Flower's article pointing out 

 their value and importance, natural history museums 

 have been established at many, if not most, of our public 

 schools besides Eton. Those at Marlborough, Rugby, 

 and Haileybury may be specially noticed as being, to a 

 great extent, arranged on the lines advocated by Sir 

 William. 



As regards county and other local museums, Flower 

 in the article under the latter title, published in Essays 

 on Museums, advocated that these, in addition to 

 natural history specimens, should likewise illustrate the 

 archaeology, and indeed the general history of the 

 district ; obsolete implements, such as flint-and-steel and 

 candle-snuffers, if of local origin, legitimately finding a 

 place within its walls. The natural history of the 

 locality, needless to say, should be well illustrated, and so 

 arranged and named that any visitor can easily identify 

 every creature and plant he may have met with during 

 his rambles in the district. 



The subject of administration is next discussed, when 

 after fully admitting the value of volunteer assistance, 

 the writer lays it down as imperative that a com- 

 petent paid Curator must be engaged if the museum 

 is to be really useful and to properly fulfil its 

 purpose. 



Now that so many institutions of this nature are 

 under the control of the County Councils, and their 

 expenses defrayed out of the rates, the following passage 



