264 
NORTHERN NEWS. 
Amongst the birthday honours we notice that Prof. E. Ray Lankester is 
created K.C.B. 
Mr. E. E. Lowe, of the Plymouth Museum, has been appointed Curator 
of the Leicester Museum in place of Mr. Montague Browne, resigned. 
No. 4 of the Bankfield Museum Notes (Halifax), deals with the ‘Egyptian 
Tablets’ in the collection, and has been written by Mr. Thomas Midgley, of 
the Bolton Museums. The pamphlet is sold for one penny. 
An admirable case of representations of British Butterflies has been 
prepared by the ‘ Young Citizen,’ of 12, Salisbury Square, London, E.C. 
This contains beautifully coloured copies of twenty-four of the most striking 
of our British Butterflies, which are cut out in cardboard and fastened in the 
case by pins, each species having a printed label. At the low price of half- 
a-crown, it is most suitable for schools, etc. 
We much regret to record the death of Prof. A. Newton, F.R.S., whose 
‘Dictionary of Birds’ is so well known. For half-a-century Prof. Newton 
has taken a leading position in ornithological science, and to him the 
present generation is largely indebted for his herculean efforts in the matter 
of the protection of birds, upon which subject he read a paper to the British 
Association so long ago as 1868. He was born in 1829. 
Dr. C. F. George of Kirton Lindsey sends us a reprint of a useful paper, 
‘Hints on Collecting and Preserving Fresh-water Mites.’ This is from 
the ‘ Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist.’ 
The following particulars of sales during 1906 of plumes, for the adorn- 
ment of the (un)fair sex, seem incredible, but are guaranteed accurate :— 
Osprey Feathers. Birds of 
Packages. Paradise. 
INGFADENAY abonmanad “cnobiad B27 8,508 
Noro Si erenm aamceco red sceoe 1 260 7,188 
AIMS cave hectaasin etches 289 11,841 
PANS USE qivceceua eee neces 242 3,948 
October. sere acer 485 5,700 
IDXecehanl 915) eaneanriganbeccdaose 265 3,600 
1868 40,785 
[The printer refuses to set up our comments, which were, perhaps, rather 
too forcible, though expressing our feelings at the time—ED.]. 
Mr. E. K. Robinson, B.E.N.A., informs the readers of ‘The Country Side’ 
that he is 5 ft. gin. in height, weighs 13 stone, and is short and stout. He has 
not ‘the same elegant sort of figure as the ex-Prime Minister, Mr. Balfour.’ 
In view of this, possibly the readers of the ‘ Naturalist’ may care to know 
that the beard of the writer of these notes is not at all like that of the King 
of the Belgians! 
Speaking of Mr. E. K. Robinson reminds us that some little time ago 
he asked the opinion of the readers of ‘ The Country Side’ on his ‘ proposed 
innovation’ in substituting the word ‘animals’ for ‘mammals.’ We 
have watched the paper since, and apparently either Mr. Robinson's request 
has been ignored by his readers, or, what seems more likely, the opinions 
of his readers have been ignored by Mr. Robinson. We ventured to express 
our views on the matter, but presumably both the copies of this journal 
which were sent to him have miscarried. Or is it that in snatching this 
‘chestnut ’ from his well-stocked grate Mr. Robinson has burnt his fingers, 
and dropped it amongst the ashes, which must now be rather rapidly 
accumulating. 
Naturalist, 
