XXIV 



Obituary Notice of Fellow deceased. 



ingenuity, and, indeed, the Trustees paid a tribute to Dr. Gunther and 

 his staff for " the successful removal of the zoological collections without 

 any accident of importance," and acknowledging " their sense of the fore- 

 thought and care shown in the direction of the removal, and of the zealous 

 assistance of officers and attendants in effecting it." The enormous labour 

 involved in the re-arrangement, for which careful plans of the galleries 

 had previously been prepared, so that in many cases the specimens were 

 placed at once in position, may be estimated by the fact that besides the 

 removal of about a fourth of the collections in 1882, no less than 350 

 journeys were made by vaus in 1883, in addition to the transfer of very 

 delicate specimens in cabs or by hand. To the persevering efforts of 

 Dr. Gunther perhaps, more than any other, the design of a special Spirit 

 Building is due, and it has the form of a large quadrangular hall with a 

 floor and a roof of cement, besides other ingenious arrangements for the 

 control of free spirit, and for the effective application of water in case of fire. 



The. formation of a Zoological Library had early been considered both by 

 Dr. Gray and Dr. Gunther, and the subject became more urgent when the 

 transfer from the neighbourhood of the great National Library in Bloomsbury 

 was decided on ; yet it was not till 1879-81 that a commencement was 

 made. Dr. Gunther prepared the first catalogue of books in the Zoological 

 Department, with the help of John Saunders, comprising 1700 titles, including 

 182 works. The Treasury allowed the unexpended balance (£5700) of the 

 previous year to be devoted to this purpose, making a further grant of 

 £5000 for each of the five following years. Dr. Gunther had taken upon 

 himself the work connected both with the Zoological and the General Library 

 in the new Museum, selecting, indeed, the books himself at Quaritch's, but, 

 as the works increased in number, the Trustees granted for several years 

 the assistance of Mr. J. E. Harting in the Zoological Library. By purchase, 

 presentation, or exchange the Departmental Library had, in 1895, amassed 

 10,036 separate works or 16,238 volumes, a sufficient proof of the constant 

 care and thoughtful supervision of the Keeper, at whose suggestion John 

 Saunders, who had been specially trained for this work, was placed in 

 attendance on the Library. Thus one of the most important adjuncts to 

 the National Collection was established, and has been of signal service to 

 every member of the staff as well as to the numerous British and foreign 

 workers who resort to the great collection for study. 



In connection with the Library Dr. Gunther arranged for the transference 

 from Bloomsbury of several valuable collections of original drawings of 

 animals, such as J. Abbot's original drawings of the Insects of Georgia — in 

 17 volumes, and of Major-General Hardwicke's drawings of Indian animals 

 — in 33 volumes. This department is an important one and merited the 

 attention the Keeper bestowed on it. He also formed a large private 

 collection of zoological drawings, the arrangement of which formed the 

 recreation of his leisure hours. 



Dr. Gunther's profound knowledge of fishes was utilised in public 



