230 '^HE TICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIII. 



Castor in the Twins gave a good example of what has 

 been learnt of late years by means of the spectroscope. 

 In a small telescope this star appears to be double, like 

 Alpha Centauri, but with a period of about 300 years. 

 The spectroscope, however, has proved that each of the 

 two components is double, though they can not be seen 

 so in any telescope. In one pair, the stars revolve round 

 one another in nine days, and in the other in three 

 days, so that we have here a very complicated system of 

 four separate large stars. 



A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. 



By T. IF. Bothroyd, 31. A., Inspector of ScJiooh, 

 Education Defartment. 



The recent Nature-study Camp at Mornington, under 

 the auspices of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 

 was one of the most significant educational gatherings ever 

 held in Victoria. Here fifty or sixty teachers were as- 

 sembled together to receive instruction in various aspects 

 of Nature from acknowledged experts. Thev were af- 

 forded an opportunity of seeing scientific methods applied 

 by trained minds to interpret the phenomena of Nature. 



Since the selected teachers came from every part of 

 Victoria, it is easy to see how far-reaching will be the 

 effects on the study of Nature in Victoria. 



The camp was pleasantly situated in a break of the tea- 

 tree about two miles south of INIornington ; and, from it, 

 an uninterrupted view of the Bay was -gained. The 

 organization of the leader, Mr. Leach, and his committee 

 ■ — consisting of Messrs. T. S. Hall, Kitson, Armitage, 

 Pritchard, Kershaw, and Lees — was perfect, and over- 

 looked nothing needed for the comfort and instruction of 

 the visitors. A fine spirit pervaded the camp. So far 

 as I obser\'ed, not a singe discordant note was struck. 



The definition of Lloyd Morgan, so frequentlv quoted 

 by Mr. Leach, " that Nature-study is a process whereby 

 common things acquire a meaning," took on a deeper 

 significance in these excursions. The immediate vicinitv 

 afforded an ample and varied field of obser^'ation. 



Lender the skilful interpretation of Messrs. Hall and 

 Pritchard, the sea-shore and cliffs were made to vield up 

 their story of the past ages. And what a fascinating 

 story it is ! 



" There rolls the deep where grew the tree, 

 O Earth, w^hat changes hast thou seen !" 



