This is indeed a splendid, although by no means exaggerated, testimonial to the success of Flower’s administration of the Museum of the College of Surgeons, and to the good and lasting work he there effected—work which paved the way to the improvements he was subsequently able to effect in the Natural History Museum. _Note._—On Owen’s retirement the post of Superintendent of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum, which he had filled, was merged into the new office of Director; a wider scope being given to the duties of the post. CHAPTER III AS DIRECTOR OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM [1884-1898] On the resignation in 1884 by Sir Richard Owen of the post of Superintendent of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum, which four years previously had been transferred to the magnificent new building in the Cromwell Road, officially known as the British Museum (Natural History), but more commonly designated the Natural History Museum, it was felt by all competent to form an adequate opinion on the subject that Professor Flower was the one man specially and peculiarly fitted for the post. And accordingly, in the course of the year in question, he was duly appointed to that most important and influential position, which may be regarded as conferring upon its occupant the status of the leading official zoologist in the British Empire. It was in this position that Flower became most widely known to the general public; and here that he received the honours, firstly of C.B., and later on K.C.B., conferred upon him by his Sovereign. At the date when Sir William (then Professor) assumed the reins of office, the position of Director of the Natural History Museum was of a somewhat anomalous and peculiar nature. At that time (as now) the administration of the museum was divided into four sections, or departments, namely Zoology, Geology (or rather Palæontology), Botany and Mineralogy, each of which was presided over by a “Keeper,” who had practically unlimited control, both as regards finance and general arrangement, of his own section. Consequently, as regards these four departments, the Director had very little control over the museum he was nominally supposed to govern; and his functions were to a great extent limited to regulating the “foreign policy” of the institution under his charge, that is to say, its relations to the parent establishment at Bloomsbury, to the Treasury, and to the world at large. In fact, as Sir William once remarked to the present writer, the Director at that time had to find a sphere of work for himself. Fortunately, such a sphere of work lay ready to hand, and Flower immediately entered upon it with characteristic energy and enthusiasm.