▁which ▁occup y ▁the ▁valley ▁of ▁the ▁R oding ▁at ▁Il ford , ▁within ▁a ▁mile ▁of ▁his ▁residence . ▁Enc ou rag ed ▁by ▁Professor ▁O wen ▁he ▁comm enced ▁collect ing ▁the ▁rich ▁series ▁of ▁m amm al ian ▁remains ▁in ▁the ▁br ic ke arth s ▁of ▁the ▁Th ames ▁valley , ▁compr ising ▁amongst ▁others ▁the ▁ske let ons ▁of ▁the ▁t iger , ▁w olf , ▁bear , ▁ele ph ant , ▁r hin oc eros , ▁horse , ▁el k , ▁stag , ▁b ison , ▁ox , ▁hi pp op ot am us , ▁& c . ▁This ▁valuable ▁collection ▁of ▁ple ist oc ene ▁m amm alia ▁is ▁now ▁in ▁the ▁Natural ▁History ▁Museum . ▁Most ▁notable ▁in ▁the ▁collection ▁is ▁the ▁" Il ford ▁m amm oth ▁sk ull " ▁which ▁is ▁the ▁most ▁complete ▁m amm oth ▁sk ull ▁ever ▁found ▁in ▁Britain . ▁The ▁sk ull ▁is ▁on ▁display ▁in ▁the ▁H int ze ▁Hall ▁of ▁the ▁Natural ▁History ▁Museum . ▁A ▁res in ▁cast ▁of ▁the ▁sk ull ▁is ▁on ▁display ▁in ▁Red bridge ▁Central ▁Library ▁in ▁Il ford . ▁In ▁his ▁Catalogue ▁of ▁Ple ist oc ene ▁M amm alia ▁from ▁Il ford , ▁Es sex , ▁ 1 8 7 4 , ▁printed ▁for ▁private ▁circul ation ▁only , ▁Br ady ▁acknowled ges ▁his ▁inde bt ed ness ▁to ▁Mr . ▁William ▁Dav ies , ▁F . G . S ., ▁his ▁instruct or ▁in ▁the ▁art ▁of ▁pres