CHAPTER XVI 



LATER DAYS AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 



IN 1889 Flower achieved a typical year's work and 

 activity. Besides his daily occupation at the 

 Museum he lectured before various societies, and 

 spent an Easter holiday in Cornwall, where, finding 

 some unrecorded remains of whales at Penzance, 

 he carefully examined them, found out their species, 

 and fully described them for the local museum. 

 He was elected President of the Zoological Society 

 for the eleventh time. In addition to all his 

 regular work a large correspondence, both at home 

 and abroad, made increasing demands on his time 

 and energy. Part was due to his position, and 

 he was always ready to comply with legitimate 

 desires for knowledge. But it was scarcely fair 

 that many people should write to ask him for in- 

 formation which they could have found for them- 

 selves if they took the trouble to consult an 

 encyclopaedia. Many parents also sought his advice 

 about the education of their children. He had to 

 disappoint some mothers who brought boys who 

 "had a taste for natural history," which often meant 

 only that they were fond of catching butterflies, 



