THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



175 



wish to interest in natural science, for the subjects are presented in a popular 

 readable style, not calculated to deter the beginner as scientific manuals 

 almost of necessity are. Perhaps the best from one standpoint are : — 

 " Animal Life on the Ocean Surface/' by Professor Moseley ; " The Move- 

 ments of Plants/' by E. A. Parkyn, M.A. ; " The Animals that make Lime- 

 stone/' by Dr. P. H. Carpenter ; and "Facts and Fictions in Zoology," by 

 Dr. Andrew Wilson. One of the lectures, " The Eye and its Work," by 

 Dr. Forbes, is illustrated. We could have wished they all had been. 



Proceedings of the Liverpool Naturalists' Field Club. 



This must be a flourishing society, for their balance sheet shows subscrip- 

 tions from nearly 300 members; one of their excursions was attended by 

 nearly 100 members ; and certain prizes they offer for competition attracting 

 a large number. We are particularly pleased with these competitions, and 

 they appear to be arranged with considerable judgement. Some of them are, 

 to us, quite novel. For instance, they give during this year eight botanical 

 enigmas for solution. The enigma consists of the botanical description of a 

 plant occurring at the locality to which the excursion for the month is fixed. 

 Thus on September 18th, at Hoghton Towers, the riddle is as follows: — 

 Kootstock with long stolons. Leaves elliptical to strap shaped, tripinnate- 

 partite or bipinuatipartite. Anthodes in a dense terminal corymb. Pericline 

 ovoid. Phyllaries slightly woolly. Ray florets about half as long as the 

 pericline. Climanth elongate conical at maturity. Epigynous disk without a 

 pappus." Members finding a plant answering the description, take it to 

 the president or referee, and sign a form. After tea, the name of the plant 

 is given, but finders may be asked questions on the description. 



Last year the various enigmas were solved 74 times by 21 members, 11 of 

 whom obtained prizes, for it must be solved four times to entitle to a prize. 

 We observe our friend Dr. Ellis figures as one of the prize winners. 



Prizes are also given for the best collections made in the year, and on each 

 excursion ; for the three best specimens collected during an excursion ; for 

 best bouquet of wild flowers ; for the best water-colour drawing of four wild 

 flowers, &g., &c. Also guinea prizes for the best collections of Land and 

 Freshwater shells, of Marine Shells, of Lepidoptera, of Coleoptera, of Diptera, 

 of Hymenoptera, of Neuroptera, of Orthoptera, &c, &c. Geological Micro- 

 scopical, and other prizes are also given. A large prize of £5 is also offered 

 for a Monograph, illustrated by specimens, and recording the localities of any 

 principal group of plants or animals not hitherto included in the local Flora 

 or Fauna. In all cases the collection, though sent in to the committee, re- 

 main the property of the competitor. 



