At the request of the Head-Master, in 1889, Flower furnished some written advice as to the best method of arranging a museum at Eton College, and these were published as an article in _Nature_ for that year, under the title of “School Museums.” The writer observed that the subjects best adapted for such a museum are zoology, botany, mineralogy, and geology; adding that “everything in the museum should have some distinct object, coming under one or other of the above subjects, and under one or other of the series defined below, and everything else should be rigorously excluded. The Curator’s business will be quite as much to keep useless specimens out of the museum as to acquire those that are useful.” It was further urged that the “Index Museum,” in the Natural History Museum, furnished the best guide to the lines on which a school museum should be furnished and arranged, but that the exhibits should be restricted to a simpler and less detailed series. Under the title of “Natural History as a Vocation,” Sir William published in _Chambers’ Journal_ for April 1897 an article dealing with biology as a profession, and also discussing the best means of encouraging and directing the “collecting instinct,” which is so marked a feature in some boys. This article is reprinted in _Essays on Museums_, under the title of “Boys’ Museums.” It serves to show that Flower considered the aforesaid “collecting instinct” worthy, under certain restrictions, of every encouragement. Since the appearance of Flower’s article pointing out their value and importance, natural history museums have been established at many, if not most, of our public schools besides Eton. Those at Marlborough, Rugby, and Haileybury may be specially noticed as being, to a great extent, arranged on the lines advocated by Sir William. As regards county and other local museums, Flower in the article under the latter title, published in _Essays on Museums_, advocated that these, in addition to natural history specimens, should likewise illustrate the archæology, and indeed the general history of the district; obsolete implements, such as flint-and-steel and candle-snuffers, if of local origin, legitimately finding a place within its walls. The natural history of the locality, needless to say, should be well illustrated, and so arranged and named that any visitor can easily identify every creature and plant he may have met with during his rambles in the district. The subject of administration is next discussed, when after fully admitting the value of volunteer assistance, the writer lays it down as imperative that a competent paid Curator must be engaged if the museum is to be really useful and to properly fulfil its purpose. Now that so many institutions of this nature are under the control of the County Councils, and their expenses defrayed out of the rates, the following passage has a most important bearing on the management of local museums:—