The obvious inference from this would be that the cases of birds mounted in imitation of their natural environment, inclusive of the splendid model of a portion of the Bass Rock, with its feathered inhabitants placed in the “pavilion” at the end of the bird gallery, are due to the initiation of Flower. This is far from being the case; and he himself would have been the very last man to claim credit which was not his due. As a matter of fact, the idea of mounting birds in this manner originated with Dr. Bowdler Sharpe during the Keepership of Dr. Günther; the first case installed on these lines being the one containing the common coot. The series was continued during Dr. Günther’s term of office, and was kept up by Flower after his succession to the Keepership. As regards the Bass Rock model, this was also installed during Dr. Günther’s Keepership, and, I believe, while Owen was Superintendent. What Flower did initiate in the bird gallery was the rearrangement of the wall-cases on much the same lines as the mammal galleries, including the rejection of duplicates and uninteresting species, and the replacement of worn-out and badly-mounted specimens, by new and artistically set-up examples, and the addition of maps and descriptive labels. As a matter of fact, the replacement and remounting of specimens have been carried out to a much greater extent among the birds than has been found possible with the mammals. A large number of the birds have been mounted by Cullingford of Durham, whereas nearly all the mammals have been set up by three London taxidermists, namely Rowland Ward, Ltd., Gerrard, and Pickhardt. This plan of employing several firms of taxidermists, instead of giving all the work to one, was much favoured by Flower, as it gave rise to a healthy competition and rivalry, and thus produced better results; the different firms being kept up to the mark by having their names affixed to the more important examples of their respective work. Before his last illness Flower had in contemplation a plan for treating the reptile and fish galleries (in which the crowded exhibits displayed a monotonous and dismal “khaki” hue) on the above lines, but this work was left for his successor, by whom it is in course of being carried out with characteristic energy and originality.