1902 Young Nahtraltsfs Qziarterly Competition 241 



time to cover all the subjects. Special Archaeological subjects will 

 be dealt with after the general articles, and illustrated. We shall 

 always be glad to see original notes and observations, and publish 

 them in so far as they are suitable to the character of this journal. 



Florist, Tunbridge. 



See Percival's ' Agricultural Botany,' p. 287 ct seq. It is there 

 stated that " many examples are known where cross-fertilisation does 

 take place between different species of plants, as, for example, be- 

 tween the raspberry and blackberry, wheat and rye," &c. The 

 progeny of such crossing are termed hybrids. " The more nearly 

 allied the species are, the more readily do they hybridise." These 

 hybrids are usually less fertile than their parents, often quite sterile. 

 Doubling of the flowers is common in hybrids. In the later genera- 

 tions entirely new characters may be observed. 



S. L. G., Wilts. 



The Tawny Owl is a resident over the greater part of Great 

 Britain. It has no ear tufts. Mr Witherby recorded a case in 

 'Knowledge,' June 1897, of a tawny owl killing a full-grown rabbit. 



D. P., Co. Cavan. 



The Nuthatch is very rare in Scotland, and does not occur, to our 

 knowledge, in Ireland. Eggs from 5 to 8 in number. 



R. P. H., Torquay. 



The tusks of the elephant are incisor teeth. The molar teeth of 

 Elephas are so large that the jaws cannot accommodate more than 

 two and a part of a third at one time (Beddard's ' Mammalia,' p. 219). 

 The African elephant uses the tusks for digging up roots, especially, 

 so it is said, the right tusk, which is therefore frecjuently shorter 

 than the left. The tusk of the walrus is a canine tooth. 



Taxidermist, Liverpool. 



We do not recommend individual firms. Consult the advertise- 

 ment columns of this and other natural science journals. 



Young Naturalist's Quarterly Competition. 



In order to encourage the study of natural history and other scientific 

 subjects, the Editor offers prizes every cjuarter for the best essays sent 

 to him on the prescribed subjects. The competitions are open to all 

 young students and scholars, and are specially intended for the pupils 

 of public schools, colleges, &c., which have natural history and other 

 societies for their scholars. Competitors must send their essays in their 

 own handwriting, together with a statement from their head-master or 



