CH. xi HIS TASTE IN ARRANGEMENT 153 



illustration, and was laying them side by side in 

 two rows on a mahogany board, trying or rejecting 

 different " links " to see which fitted best. " I 

 think that a feather is almost the most beautiful 

 thing in the world," he said, "and these are almost 

 the most beautiful feathers." He would try the 

 effect of position half a dozen times over when 

 placing a specimen on the walls, thinking no detail 

 insignificant. There is a fine tiger's head and 

 claws, illustrating, or rather as a comment on, the 

 teeth and claw series, in one of the alcoves. Sir 

 William tried the paws in various positions and 

 altered the length of the portion of forearm attached 

 more than once before he was satisfied. His 

 personality made friends, not only for himself, but 

 for the national work which he was carrying out, 

 among all classes, from the Trustees and Ministers 

 who controlled the Museum or the funds which 

 enhanced its efficiency to the travellers, explorers, 

 or collectors who could aid in its enrichment. 

 Among his friends was Captain David Gray of 

 Peterhead, one of the most successful captains of 

 whaling expeditions of the day. He was known 

 as the " King of the Whalers," and was one 

 of the last of the successful British whaling 

 captains. Gray was greatly interested in the 

 natural history of the whale generally, and much 

 pleased that a naturalist and anatomist of Sir 

 William's eminence should have devoted so much 

 time to the subject. He deplored that there was 



