THE CENTRAL HALL 145 



where a case of all the various beautiful modifications 

 of silica or '* flint," from a rough flint stone from the 

 road-side to the most exquisite agates, arranged by 

 him, is still to be seen. 



In 1888 Flower completed the case illustrating 

 albinism in the Great Hall, and began that showing 

 the phenomena of melanism ; and Mr. F. G. God- 

 man presented to the Museum a collection of 11,000 

 North American birds, all carefully named by lead- 

 ing American ornithologists. In 1889 the case 

 illustrating melanism was completed, and the bay 

 containing the introductory collection to the class 

 *' Reptiles" was filled and fully labelled. 



In 1890 the set of cases exemplifying general 

 laws was increased by that illustrating variation in 

 a single species according to age, sex, and season in 

 the ruff, the males losing the ruff and becoming like 

 the females in winter plumage, though they differ in 

 size. In the lower part of the case the birds are 

 shown in breeding plumage, when the females gain 

 richer colours, and the males assume the "ruff" 

 from which the birds are named. They also differ 

 in plumage so much that of the twenty-three birds 

 shown no two are alike. In the same year the 

 Booth collection of British birds, stuffed and mounted 

 in the most realistic and natural surroundings, was 

 offered to the Museum. It so happened that the 

 beautiful series of birds and their nests, originated 

 and arranged on a similar principle by the learned 

 Keeper of Zoology, Dr. Gunther, F.R.S., for so 



