156 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



Society. He was administering the Museum 

 generally and developing his synoptic series in 

 the Great Hall. He was steadily forwarding the 

 interests of the Zoological Society and stimulating 

 interest in the Anthropological Society and its 

 work. A Fellow of the former Society says : 

 " Sir William Flower made an ideal President. 

 His stately presence, tall figure, and fine head 

 seemed naturally to fit him for the great carved 

 oak presidential chair, whence he really 'presided' 

 over the meetings whether the afternoon meetings 

 of the council or the fuller evening meetings of the 

 Society generally. He listened attentively to all 

 the papers read (as proved by his after-remarks on 

 them), even when, as occasionally must be the case 

 in any scientific society, they were dull or involved. 

 Also he was quick to observe if the audience were 

 getting bored, when he would suggest to the reader 

 to omit some of the lists of names and numbers 

 or unnecessary details, still with such courtesy and 

 gentleness that even the author could not feel hurt ; 

 whilst in the general discussions that followed 

 Flower not only guided them to the most important 

 parts of the papers, and called upon those Fellows 

 most qualified to speak on the various subjects, but 

 also showed the greatest tact, as well as common 

 sense and decision, in suppressing any ill-feeling or 

 personalities, which sometimes arise in the heat of 

 discussion." He was also popularising the Museum 

 and interest in zoology on the part of all classes ; 



