GROUPS OF BIRDS WITH MODELLED FOLIAGE 299 



To a Leicester man — Mr. Theodore Walker — is the credit 

 due of having been the first to recognise the importance and 

 the capabilities of the new fabric, and he it was who, in 1877, 

 had the first group — that of pheasants — mounted with prim- 

 roses, bluebells, and ferns modelled in the new material ; this, 

 after being exhibited for a short time in the Leicester Museum, 

 was presented by him to the Natural History Museum, South 

 Kensington, thus introducing this art, as a pleasing innovation, 

 into museum arrangement. The Leicester Museum was, there- 

 fore, the first to show the world that blending of artistic 

 taxidermy and artistic modelling of plants, which has done so 

 much to enhance its popularity and efficiency as a teaching 

 factor, and has removed the dry-as-dust character which formerly 

 clung to it, and to all provincial museums not abreast of the 

 times. 



It is most unfortunate that no examples of the early 

 work in modelled groups — far inferior, however, to the pre- 

 sent-day performances — exist in the Leicester Museum, Mr. 

 Walker having, for good and sufficient reasons, given some 

 other cases to South Kensington before the present Director 

 came into office. Although not of the highest merit, either in 

 design or execution, — some, indeed, being spoiled by the intro- 

 duction of stamped leaves — these were the foundation of the 

 beautiful collection of groups now located in the galleries of 

 the great hall, and in the centre of the bird-galleries, of the 

 British Museum, South Kensington ; Dr. Giinther or Dr. Sharpe 

 having applied in 1879 to Mr. J. H. Mintorn, who, not being 

 able to devote himself to such work, engaged his sister, Mrs. 

 E. S. Mogridge, who executed the foliage for a series of groups. 



In the Daily News of 26th February, 1892, in an article 

 headed " Curiosities of Bird Life," it is stated that " Mr. Bowdler 

 Sharpe's splendid services in the Natural History Museum may 

 be seen in that most popular gallery, where the birds are made 



