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41 
THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 
By FRANCIS NICHOLSON, F.Z.S., February 26th, 1884. 
This was a popular or non-scientific lecture on the wild 
terrestrial animals of the British Isles, omitting the Bats, Seals, 
Whales and Dolphins. The habits of the various animals were 
dwelt upon, and many curious facts were given illustrating their 
cunning and artfulness. The lecturer related several anecdotes 
about the difficulties of snaring wild animals, and the amount 
of careful and studied observation that was required before 
anyone could hope to be successful in the most difficult and 
interesting art of trapping. The whole thing was often nothing 
more or less than a match between the dexterity and superior 
knowledge of the trapper and the sagacity and noticing powers 
of the animal. History furnished us with particulars of many 
larger and more ferocious species, that were common in former 
times, such as the wild Boar and the Wolf, which had, however, 
long ago become extinct. Such animals as these would never be 
allowed to become numerous in any country where the population 
was so dense, and though England was becoming in most parts 
very thickly peopled, we may fairly conclude that no species of 
wild animal now existing in Great Britain and Iveland was likely 
to become extinct at any early period. 
SOIREE.—LITHOGRAPHY. 
Director: JAMES GRANT. March 4th, 1884. 
The substance of Mr. Grant’s remarks was as follows :— 
Lithography is one of the branches of the great and ancient art 
of Printing. Printing may be said to include any method which 
in its essence is “the production of a copy by pressure.” 
Stamping upon wax or other soft material, coining of money, 
graving upon stone or metal are all methods of printing. The 
best known process of printing is that from blocks or type, known 
as Letterpress Printing. By this method are produced nearly all 
our books and all our newspapers. The youngest branch of the 
Art is Lithography. By it, many of the most elaborate forms of 
work are produced, as a greater freedom is allowed to the artist, 
who is not restricted to the use of types of wood or metal, inflex- 
ible in design and limited im number. Any design, however 
intricate, which can be drawn by the artist, can be reproduced by 
