THE BIRDS OF MARLBOROUGH.* 



• The Birds of Marlborough : being a Contribution to the Ornithology of the District;. 

 By Everard Im Thurn. London ; Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. 



The good example which was set by Harrow, and imitated more 

 ambitiously by Eton, has now been followed by Marlborough, and it is 

 extremely gratifying to notice the beneficial result which is accruing 

 from the establishment of natural-history clubs at our public schools. 

 "When we consider the obvious advantages which attend the toheme, we 

 cannot but anticipate its more general adoption. 



A society once formed by the enrolment of those in the school who 

 may be willing to join, and an able president and secretary elected, the 

 modus operandi is simple enough. Certain days are fixed for "field 

 days," and certain evenings for " meetings." On a field day the pre- 

 sident directs the excursionists according to the particular " ology " or 

 branch of science which each may have selected ; assisting discrimination 

 between what is useful and useless, naming the plant, bird, or insect 

 pointed out to him, or suggesting the preservation of particular sped- 

 mens for examination and determination at home ; in fine, teaching by 

 the wayside instead of in the study. Each member of the society 

 then makes a list of such species as he may have met with during the 

 excursion, adding what notes may occur to him with reference to the 

 rarity or otherwise of any particular species, its local distribution, diver- 

 sity of habit, or peculiarity of growth or colour. These lists are then 

 handed to the secretary, who arranges them methodically, and reads 

 them in the shape of a report at the ensuing evening meeting. The 

 president then invites a discussion, and directs attention to such 

 works as bear upon the subject discussed, suggesting a reference to them 

 in leisure time, or, if not in the school library, proposing their purchase. 

 From the materials thus furnished to the secretary, a quarterly report 

 may be printed for circulation in the school, the selection of matter 

 being referred to the president, or, better still if practicable, to a com- 

 mittee of publication. 



In this way much interesting information may be preserved in the 

 annals of a school, and a foundation possibly laid for the publication 

 at some future time of a valuable fauna or flora. 



^-•- o r»nnd deal will depend upon the srefo»vi o^/w^*--.! ;», «\nh1i.<thin£r 



