Notes and Comments. 3 



AGE OF THE NORTH SEA. 



The organic remains from the moorlog ' shew clearly that 

 the deposit was laid down on a land surface, and under con- 

 ditions almost similar to those now existing in the fen districts.' 

 Mr. Reid, after carefully reviewing the evidence, considers 

 that the masses of moorlog occur in situ on the Dogger. This 

 seems to support Mr. Jukes Browne's theory that ' when this 

 Ice Age was passing away, the whole of the North Sea was dry 

 land, a broad, rolhng plain,' through which ' ran the Rhine, 

 of which all the rivers of eastern England became the tribu- 

 taries . . . The Dogger Bank is a relic of this old land surface, 

 which has never been buried by modern deposits.' Mr. Reid 

 adds that the existing fens of East Anglia may be regarded as a 

 relic of a much greater fenland which once joined England to 

 the Continent. 



THE BOOTHAM SCHOOL NATURAL HISTORY CLUB. 



Recently two hundred and fifty guests assembled at 

 Bootham School (York) to celebrate the 500th meeting of the 

 Natural History Club, which has developed out of the Society 

 formed in 1834, by the first headmaster of the School, Mr. 

 John Ford. The evening's programme commenced by an 

 inspection of work now being done in the Club in Botany, 

 Ornithology, Conchology, Archaeology, Entomology and 

 Microscopy. Past'work was represented by the School exhibit, 

 which was awarded a Diploma of Honour at the recent Franco- 

 British Exhibition. The proceedings included short lectures 

 upon subjects of varying interest. 



LEISURE TIME. 



The success of the evening was due in no small measure to 

 the tradition, which has been continuous for more than seventy 

 years, that leisure time must be well filled. Original observa- 

 tions, systematically recorded with illustrations, are encouraged, 

 and in this way, as a member of the staff said. ' We get a mind 

 alert to see all that is going on around it — bird, flower and beast 

 and changing sky — a mind of omnivorous interest, reflecting, 

 like a mirror, all it sees. From older boys, thinking as well as 

 seeing is expected, and in their work evidence is often discovered 

 of a persistent attempt to prove the unknown, and to summon 

 to their aid every method and every instrument which gives 

 promise of assistance.' We congratulate our young friends at 

 York on the zeal with which they follow their natural history 

 studies. 



jgio Jan. i. 



