Prospective — Our Objects 3 



Lastly, for the special advantage of our younger readers, 

 we shall give Lists of Questions, some with their answers 

 and some of which the answers will be delayed for a year, 

 in order to stimulate investigation. 



Although the Gazette takes part of its name from a small 

 provincial town, we are, as has been already implied, very 

 desirous that our readers should understand that its scope 

 will not be restricted. An influential part of our staff will 

 be resident in London, with constant access to the societies, 

 museums, galleries and gardens, which the Metropolis so 

 liberally offers for the use of all. At Haslemere, w T e shall be 

 in daily intercourse with the fields, moors and copses, which 

 there afford, in a variety almost unequalled, opportunities for 

 original observation in natural history. It will be our ambition 

 there to follow, though we fear with very unequal steps, the 

 example of the renowned author who, at the not distant village 

 of Selborne, "Boswellised the birds and took down the familiar 

 conversation of Nature." As supplementary alike to Metro- 

 politan and country-side opportunities, we shall always have 

 at command our own Educational Museum, with its Vivarium, 

 Portrait Gallery and Library. All of these are now fairly well 

 stocked with material for detailed study in most branches. 



Explanation of Plate. 



The upper figure in our plate given as frontispiece represents 

 two oak trees of the same age and standing near to each 

 other under precisely similar conditions. The one has shed 

 all its leaves and the other has retained them. The photo- 

 graph was taken in April. The two trees repeat the phe- 

 nomenon (which is by no means an uncommon one), every 

 winter. The leaves, of course, though kept on, were dry and 

 brown. We shall have something to say in explanation at a 

 future time. For explanation of lower part of plate see p. 13. 



